Department of Archaeology 45th Annual Report October 1998 - September 1999

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Contents

 Personnel

Department of Archaeology

Honorary Staff

Support Staff

Centre for Field Archaeology

The Department of Archaeology is housed in Edinburgh’s Old High School which was built in 1777.

Registered Research Students

* Thesis submitted during the session; to be examined in 1999-2000
+ New postgraduate started October 1998
§ Suspended

 

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RESEARCH

Late Hunter-Gatherers and Early Farmers

 

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The Calanais Fields Project

Directed by Geraint Coles, Catherine Flitcroft,and Mel Johnson

The laying of below ground cables by the North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board in January 1998 uncovered the remains of sub-peat stone features at Calanais Farm, Isle of Lewis. These features were interpreted as field banks or walls and were associated with a well-developed buried soil horizon. It was suggested that these walls were of Neolithic or early Bronze Age date and formed part of an extensive field system.

The Calanais Fields Project was designed to explore and understand the buried prehistoric landscape of Calanais. The key project aims are:

1. To determine the nature, extent, date, development and function of the sub-peat features at Calanais.
2. To determine how the field systems were actually used as part of a dynamic agricultural system, how this may have developed over time and the impact these agricultural practices had upon the local environment.
3. To determine the impact that environmental changes may have had upon this agricultural system and the extent to which this was responsible for the abandonment of the system and its eventual burial by peat growth.

At the outset it was intended that the Project should examine both the walls and the "blank" areas they enclose in an effort to determine the function of the field system. In so doing it was thought likely that excavation would reveal associated domestic structures, providing complementary information on the nature of occupation and economy in the area. The overall objective of this project is a better understanding of the settlement, subsistence and domestic "Landscape of the Living" to contrast with the already well explored "Ritual Landscape" of the Calanais Stones.

Aerial view of the Calanais stones. Photo D.W.Harding.

As an eventual long term goal it is suggested that the features uncovered will be stabilised in such a way as to permit their permanent display to the public. The presentation of a fragment of the Neolithic and Bronze Age landscape would perfectly complement the ritual landscape already interpreted and displayed at the adjacent Calanais Visitors Centre and Calanais Stones.

The first season of the Calanais Fields Project took place in the summer of 1999 in order to elucidate the nature, date and extent of these features. Along with detailed aboveground landscape survey, a detailed study of the sub-peat landscape was undertaken using three different methods: (1) Digital Terrain Modelling using PenMap attached to a Total Station in conjunction with probing beneath the peat, based around a 30m grid system, which produced a sub-peat contour model aiding the determination of the extent of the field walls, (2) geophysical survey using a Proton Magnetometer to locate sub-peat anomalies, and (3) small-scale excavation which occurred in a number of areas following probing over what were perceived to be the main foci of the sub-peat features.

Fourteen trial trenches were excavated in total with several significant areas excavated more extensively. The results of the excavations and probing indicate that there is an extensive buried landscape preserved beneath up to 2 metres of peat. At the base, above glacial till, all of the trenches revealed a thick deposit of an anthropogenic soil and it was on this old ground surface that a number of stone structures had been built.

Trenches 4, 5 and 11 provided separate sections across a single substantial wall constructed of large boulders, showing the variety of construction methods and survival along its length, and which had also been located in the electricity cable trench. This wall was less well preserved to the south, comprising a thin spread of stones in Trench 11, but was considerably more substantial to the north in Trenches 4 and 5, comprising a substantial wall running roughly NNW-SSE and measuring up to 1.2m in width and 0.7m in height, with individual boulders reaching 0.6m in length. A small clearance cairn and a possible oval stone structure abutted this wall in Trench 5; this latter measured 1.8m x 1.2m internally and may prove to have had a domestic function. Further extents of stone and tumble within this trench may form part of other associated structures. Trench 10, only 3m to the west of Trench 5, revealed a stone wall of very different construction and an area of dense cobbling, suggesting a roadway or prepared surface for working activities. The wall consisted of a single course of rounded stones forming a single wall face, with the palaeosol forming a small bank to the rear of this face; a dip down to the field surface may comprise a lynchet or ditch cut into the back of the bank. A stone clearance cairn was excavated in Trench 9; this consisted of small stones and was roughly circular in plan, measuring 1m across.

Trench 13 was excavated in order to investigate what was believed to be a single stone wall at the base of a small hummock eroding out towards the coast. The features exposed consisted of two distinct wall lines running north-south and east-west and probing indicates that they continue beneath a deep peat bank. Trench 14, positioned towards the foot of the slope in the area under investigation, was found to have a light brown silty sand beneath the palaeosol, a deposit not present in any of the other trenches and which represents colluvium. This is the first soil development in the area following glacial activity and precedes vegetation colonisation and the earliest anthropogenic activity. Although no archaeological features were uncovered in this trench the discovery of colluvium provides invaluable environmental evidence for landscape development in the area.

There were only a few finds associated with any of the deposits beneath the peat, consisting mainly of worked flint and quartz. This indicates that the fields were not manured with domestic midden material and so begins to tell us a little about the farming practices taking place.

A small semi-circular structure, its internal wall face visible through the turf, was located near the coast beside a vertical bedrock outcrop. Following excavation (Trench 3) there were found to be two phases of activity. The later phase comprised a semi-circular ‘bothy’ with a double-faced stone wall and a soil core, perhaps associated with the post–medieval blackhouses that surround Calanais. The deposits associated with this structure were very shallow but contained flint and Craggan Ware sherds. This structure was built on an anthropogenic soil, beneath which was a hard-packed surface which extended beyond the limits of the upper structure. Two postholes were cut into this surface, along with a cut for a large orthostat, which had been re-used to form the entrance of the later ‘bothy’.

The palaeosol layer associated with the field walls was sampled for phosphates along a grid system in each of the trenches. It is hoped that the results obtained will show any variations in use across this context, highlighting differences across the fields and/or between the interior/exterior of the field walls. Peat monoliths were taken from several sections in individual trenches. These will allow detailed palaeoenvironmental information to be obtained; in particular the pollen, which will highlight the impact of cultivation at Calanais, while the tephra record will provide a detailed and accurate time scale for peat development in the area as well as for archaeological activity. Two undergraduate dissertations have been set up to research these issues.

The field system at Calanais is proving to be a valuable archaeological resource and a second season of excavation will occur in the summer of 2000. The features are significant due to their proximity to the Calanais Standing Stones, and in the wider Hebridean context as early prehistoric research has previously focused on ritual and ceremonial monuments with the domestic/agricultural landscape being under-represented. The implications will be particularly important for reassessing the wider landscape context of the Calanais Standing Stones, providing information on the economic activities taking place contemporaneously with the ritual activities and presenting a radically different interpretation of the ‘sacred landscape’ as it is currently understood.

Funded by: The Russell Trust, The University of Edinburgh Development Trust, The Abercromby Trust, The Uig Landscape Survey, and The University of Edinburgh Travel Fund.

The Mesolithic of Eastern and Upland Scotland

Graeme Warren

Doctoral research into the character and extent of gatherer-hunter settlement in eastern Scotland continued this year, funded by Historic Scotland. Alongside a range of desk-based studies, including the cataloguing of substantial surface lithic collections and large-scale spatial analyses, a series of small-scale fieldwork exercises was undertaken, these often incorporated undergraduate training. These included field-walking followed by test-pit excavation of scatters in the Upper Tweed Valley; for example identifying and delineating a small gatherer-hunter lithic site at Edston 2. Trial trenches have also been excavated in order to assess the geomorphic context of surface flint scatters at Rink Farm, proving that some, at least, of these famous collections are re-deposited. A detailed EDM survey of chert quarries in the Borders was also undertaken, these maps, alongside last year’s trial excavation have greatly enhanced our understanding of these enigmatic features. Further surface collection and mapping of lithic remains and shell middens has been undertaken at the Sands of Forvie in Aberdeenshire. This has enabled the height of these features to be related accurately to the post-glacial maximum sea level in the area and will enable a more detailed understanding of the chronology of settlement in the area to be constructed. Test pits have also been excavated in upland areas, in conjunction with the palaeoenvironmental work of the Departmental Field School, in order to assess the extent of settlement away from modern agricultural contexts. In general the research continues to attempt to synthesise some, at least, of the wealth of data from the east of Scotland. This has included a detailed examination of archaeological approaches to landscape, identity and epistemology.

Monumental Neolithic Cemetery at Escolives, Yonne, France

Magdalena S. Midgley, in collaboration with P. Duhamel, UMR 5594 "Archéologie, culture et sociétés", Université de Bourgogne

The excavation in general

The third excavation season of the monumental cemetery at Escolives took place from 1st September to 1st October 1999. The results of the 1999 excavation season are described in detail in the Third Interim Report - Excavation Season 1999, a copy of which can be requested from Dr. Midgley.

What follows below is a brief summary of some exciting new aspects which occupied the team during the last season. The excavation moved towards the northern part of the site with two monuments, E and H, forming the subject of extensive investigation; additional work involved some features from monuments D, F and G. The study of the local geology and morphology and extensive environmental sampling of the features continued the pattern which was established in the previous season. In relation to monument D - the longest structure in the cemetery complex - we noted the segmented nature of its enclosing ditch. This was discovered solely through the employment of a new strategy: excavating, in opposing sections, a 60 m long stretch of the ditch which revealed a series of overlapping ditch segments of variable lengths and depth. The pattern is identical with ditches excavations characteristic of the contemporary causewayed enclosures.

A new form of monument design was signalled by monument H which revealed itself as a sub-circular arrangement of pits, 12m in diameter, enclosing a central grave (the latter was excavated in the previous season). Some of the pits were nearly circular and one of them contained a cattle skull. The significance of this type of monument - apart from the symbolic cattle deposition - may relate to the inspirations being drawn, in the later phase of the Cerny culture, from the autochthonous domestic architecture of circular form which could have replaced the initial stimulus of the LBK longhouse so significant in the conceptual origin of monumental cemeteries. It is also important to consider the visual, spatial and functional relationships between different monuments at Escolives. The ditch segments and pits enclose not only spaces of different shapes and sizes but spaces which are conceptually different ; one moves within and uses an elongated space in a manner very different from that which would have been appropriate to a circular space. This is an important issue which needs to be considered in the future interpretation of this site.

Another important constructional element, which has now been noted in at least four of the monuments (A, D, E and F), is the presence of the so-called fer à cheval - a horse-shoe like arrangement of timber posts which appears to form a physical barrier between the area in the monument containing the graves and the rest of the enclosed space. This phenomenon has been noted only once at Passy, Yonne, and is clearly an important and recurrent feature at Escolives. The space free of graves - physically separated from the part of the enclosure where graves had been located - may have played a significant role in the pre- and post-funeral ceremonies which had to be performed within the confines of the monument but nevertheless be kept separate from the immediate area of the actual graves. While there is presently little indication of the precise nature of such timber arrangements, one could propose timber partitions such as fences, walls or free-standing posts. On analogy with other contemporary evidence one could envisage some decorative and symbolic elements associated with such partitions, which could have involved timber versions of carvings familiar to us from the megalithic tombs: images of polished stone axes, serpents, anthropomorphic and zoomorphic representations as well as abstract signs, all carved in timber and thus no longer in existence today.

The Graves

Four definite graves have been excavated during the past season, bringing the total number of definite graves to seven. Three of the graves were in monument E, arranged in an E-W row spaced close to one another. Each contained skeletal fragments but the preservation was extremely poor; there were no associated grave goods. The fourth grave, while much shallower than the rest, provoked special excitement. It contained two reasonably preserved skeletons accompanied by some flint artefacts and an oval-mouthed vessel. Initial assessment of the evidence by a physical anthropologist, Philippe Chambon, suggests that one of the skeletons was placed in the grave between six months to one year later than the other. This raises the very important possibility that at least some of the Escolives grave chambers were constructed in a manner which allowed re-entry and access for a considerable time after the initial interment; it also suggests that some of the Cerny culture graves may have been acquiring a collective sepulchral character.

The student experience

The excavation team, apart from the two directors, comprised six Scottish and ten French archaeology students with the support of one site assistant and one draughtsman; the Scottish team remained constant throughout the duration of the excavation while the French students participated for a maximum of two weeks each. This year's group dynamics were particularly good and the students worked well in mixed groups, enhancing individual experiences, even if linguistic problems occasionally resulted in hilarious misunderstandings on both sides. The students took full advantage of being given responsibilities for specific aspects of the excavation work and derived enjoyment and useful experience from such opportunities.

The Neolithic of the Near East.

Trevor Watkins

On demitting office as Head of Department and Head of Planning Unit in the summer of 1998, Dr Watkins had a year of research leave. He worked throughout on the preparation of publications on the origins and process of the neolithic in south-west Asia. The total output consists of two books, a solicited chapter in a book on the prehistory of Mesopotamia, and two conference papers.

The first task was to complete the production of the English language edition of a rival book by a French colleague (Jacques Cauvin, 1997, Naissance des divinités, Naissance de l’agriculture: La Révolution des Symboles au Néolithique). In the course of that work, he was twice able to visit the Institut de Préhistoire Orientale, the CNRS-funded research centre in France where Jacques Cauvin and his colleagues work. The English edition of Cauvin’s book is now in production with Cambridge University Press, and is due for publication in late spring of 2000.

The primary objective of the research leave was to plan, research and write a book. This book is in part intended as a student textbook for a period and subject (the beginnings of the neolithic, the origins of sedentism and agriculture) that is studied widely at universities here, in N America and across Europe. The last such survey was James Mellaart’s The Neolithic of the Near East in 1975, and since then a huge amount of new information has become available and much debate has taken place on the significance of the beginning of the neolithic. The last part of the book is a new and original account of the processes of cultural, social and particularly ideological change involved. This required extensive reading in evolutionary and cognitive psychology, neuroscience, linguistics and cognitive approaches to the anthropology of religion, as well as in what is now called cognitive archaeology. The 200,000 word text is complete and ready for delivery to the publishers, and the details of the illustrations are now being finalised. Publication is planned for mid-2000.

Late Hunter-Gatherers

Clive Bonsall

Clive Bonsall continued his research on late hunter-gatherers and early farmers in western Scotland and Romania. In July, after a break of 8 years, he returned to Ulva Cave in the Inner Hebrides to continue his investigation of Late Mesolithic and Early Neolithic deposits in this important coastal site. During the 4-week campaign work on the shell midden deposit in the entrance zone was completed, adding considerably to the inventory of artefacts, faunal material and human remains from the site. Catriona Pickard, a postgraduate student in the Department of Archaeology, acted as Assistant Director of the project, and eight undergraduate students from the Department of Archaeology participated in the field- and post-excavation work, which was supported by grants from the Carnegie Trust, the Russell Trust and The University of Edinburgh.

In September, he spent two weeks in Romania in order to study bone tools from prehistoric sites in the Iron Gates and Transylvania and to collect samples from the artefacts for AMS ¹⁴C dating, as part of a major research project on technological aspects of the Mesolithic/Neolithic transition in Southeast Europe. The visit to Romania was supported by a grant from the Hayter Fund of The University of Edinburgh. A proposed visit to Yugoslavia in connection with the same research project, and for which grant was received from the British Academy, was postponed because of the events in Kosovo. Earlier in the year he applied successfully to the NERC for 27 AMS dates on bone tools from the 1992-6 excavations at Schela Cladovei in Romania.

In April he was elected as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, and in September he was made a Corresponding Member of the Romanian Academy of Scientists in recognition of his contribution to Romanian archaeology. He was promoted to Reader in European Prehistory in The University from October 1999.

 

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 Complex Societies and Early States

Uig Landscape Survey Project; Post Excavation up-date

Simon Gilmour

Post excavation analysis is continuing for the survey data, palaeoenvironmental samples and artefacts and ecofacts recovered from the four sites excavated under the Uig Landscape Survey Project. All the material has undergone initial processing and conservation, with all of the specialist analysis well under way. The initial tranche of radiocarbon dates have been processed through the Oxford Accelerator Laboratory (for full list see Radiocarbon list in Discovery and Excavation in Scotland, 1999). These have produced exciting results, with dates ranging from the first half of the first millennium BC (LBA/EIA) through to Medieval. The earliest dates (first half of the first millennium BC) come from the Gob Eirer promontory enclosure, making the site one of the earliest ‘promontory forts’ in Atlantic Scotland. The underlying structure of the estuarine islet site of An Dunan dates to the later centuries of the first millennium BC with the inserted ‘boat-shaped’ structure of probable Norse or early Medieval date. The significance of the dating for the underlying building lies in its contemporaneity with the massive drystone structures excavated a few kilometres to the north-east on the Bhaltos peninsula. Absolute dates for the multi-phase landscape of Guinnerso in the heart of the blacklands of Uig have only been processed for the Medieval later phases of the complex, pointing to occupation from the 14^th to the 17^th centuries AD. Initial inspection of the pottery retrieved from the lower phases of the complex point to mid-Iron Age occupation. This again is very important because of the potential for comparative studies between the excavated massive drystone structures of the Bhaltos peninsula and the two sites of An Dunan and Guinnerso which are unique in their character, apparent function and landscape position in the Atlantic Scottish Iron Age.

Jerablus Tahtani 1999

Eddie Peltenburg

Excavations at Jerablus Tahtani in 1999 were carried out from 22 March to 10 June within the Tishreen Dam international rescue programme. They were designed to explore occupations during Periods 1 and 2 of the site, the 4^th and 3^rd millennia BC. Work was conducted in all four Areas of the Project and in two new soundings. Traces of small Period 1 structures together with associated pits were located in two areas of the site. Most of this belongs to the Late Uruk period which seems to have succeeded an occupation of the local Late Chalcolithic. Period 2 excavations focused on the Early Bronze Age fort and the extra-mural zone to the south where we had previously excavated a high status tomb. More Early Bronze Age burials were recovered.

1 - Area 1:

This is located on the SE of the tell and comprises the EBA fort of Period 2B. Its wall here is multi-phased, and suggests that we have a fort, extension and annex.

Excavations at Jerablous in the 1999 season. Photo E. Peltenburg.

Room 2024 in the annex, just inside the entrance through wall 108, was fully excavated this year. Another floor was located, this time with some in situ pottery. It confirms the domestic nature of the annex, in contrast to the more official character of the extension.

 

The 1.85m wide entrance 2746 of the annex has now been excavated to a depth of 3m. It has two successive thresholds with a drain 2688 partly embedded in the annex wall. Immediately outside were foreworks. Wall 2176 extended from the eastern jamb to retain the glacis on the east side of the entry.

2 - Area II:

This is now stratigrafically linked with Area I, so we are able to integrate developments in this southern extra-mural zone with the history of the fort. During the course of this season’s investigations, it has become clear that the zone comprises a South Terrace which extends in front of the annex and lower, though important, activities at the base of the terrace.

The width of the South Terrace, from annex entrance 2746 to its retaining wall 587, is 12m. It rose c. 2.4m above the surrounding landscape. On it stood a series of domestic structures and a partly covered passage that led to the annex entrance. Part of one such structure, Room 2607, close to the annex wall was excavated in 1999. It belongs to a group of structures that seem to have been protected from upper glacis slopewash by large lateral drain 2119 that conducted water borne deposits away from the house walls and into the passageway.

The wall of the South Terrace was pierced by a two leaf doorway that provided access from the lower sector to the annex entrance.

Two radically different periods of occupation are evident in the lower zone beyond the South Terrace. In the second, the whole area was redesigned when the high status T. 302 was built here together with a passageway at right angles to its entrance.

The first passage, 2700, is 3m wide and is bordered by substantial walls founded on boulders. It led from a southern entrance, 2745, flanked by two towers, c. 2 x 3.1m. It is unclear if these are part of a lower circuit wall or free-standing. Twelve metres long, this impressive approach sloped gradually up to the South Terrace doorway 2658.

Work was conducted beside Passage 2700 on the southwest corner of T. 302 mound in order to establish for the first time the external limit of the mound in the one area where it may have been protected from Euphrates overbank wash. This proved to have a succession of two southern stone kerbs, 2503 and 2649, belonging to different phases of mound construction. They demonstrate that in its latest phases, the southern mound was min. 2.8m wide and that the southwest corner of the mound façade was right angled.

During the course of this investigation, another T. 302 satellite burial, Gr 2618, was found, this time cut into the side of the mound after the latter had been partly swept away by flooding. Finds from Gr 2618, therefore, provide further evidence for dating these high Euphrates waters. They include bowls, globular jars, copper bracelets and toggle pins, and over 750 beads.

3 - Area III:

Investigations on the west of the site are designed to elicit information on Period 1 and on the primary occupation of the Period 2B fort.

Excavations were continued to natural in a sounding 2 x 3 beyond the fort wall. An unexpected sequence recovered in the lower part of the sounding demonstrates that the site may have been founded by people using local Late Chalcolithic chaff tempered pottery and not exclusively Uruk pottery as previously reported. Apart from ceramics, evidence of the LLC comprises postholes, a large oven and washed out mudbrick walls. Uruk occupation subsequently eclipsed this material culture, a product replacement that is significant in terms of our understanding of relations between Uruk and native in this region of the Euphrates River valley.

Inside the fort, we recovered a third room of the primary occupation, Room 1980. Like the others, it was surrounded by thick walls with skins added to give more support for presumptive upper stories. And like Room 1555, it too was domestic, with a large oven and adjacent jar placed in the northwest corner.

4 - Area IV:

The aim of excavations on the north side of the mound is primarily to obtain a larger exposure of the initial phase of the fort in order to determine its character and evolution

The fort’s stone buildings that were investigated last season proved to be a radical re-organisation of space. While the passage that curved parallel with the fort wall also existed in earlier times, the space below the stone structures was heavily pitted and there were only traces of smaller mudbrick structures. These stone-lined passages, 2628-9, 2632, contained ecofactually rich drain deposits. Below these, ill-defined passages may have been paved with Uruk pottery.

The sounding showed that the glacis to the north was less than 12m wide, its full extent in the west. Two EBA burials were recovered from a very small exposure. Their presence raises the possibility that an extra-mural cemetery may exist to the north of the site. One of these, Gr. 2330, contained an adult on his left side. Grave goods include copper pendants and shell rings that are not found in contemporary graves inside the fort, hence there may be status, affiliation or other differences between mortuary populations. The superficial depth of these burials provides further welcome evidence for the level of the ground surface that surrounded the site in EBA times.

Acknowedgments: We are grateful to Prof. D. Sultan Muhesen, Director General of Antiquities and Museums, Dr Bassam Jamous, Director of Excavations and Dr Wahid Khayatah, Director, National Museum Aleppo for their advice and assistance. We benefited once again from the help of Mr. Mohammed Ali, the DGAM’s representatative. We are also most grateful for the generosity of all our supporters, including the British Academy, the British Institute in Amman for Archaeology and History, the British Museum, the Council for British Research in the Levant and the National Museums of Scotland.

The Lemba Archaeological Project, Cyprus

Edgar Peltenburg

The Lemba Archaeological Project carried out post-excavation studies on discoveries from the prehistoric site of Kissonerga-Mylouthkia and survey in the Paphos District for 5 weeks from 23 August to 25 September 1999.

Kissonerga-Mylouthkia

It has now been possible to date the material from the deep wells reported in the Bulletin de Correspndance Hellenique 129, 1996: 1082. These wells have yielded human and animal remains together with a material culture assemblage characteristic of a previously (at the time of discovery, 1994) unknown facies of the Aceramic Neolithic period. They belong to Period 1 of the site.

Well 116 at Mylouthkia after excavation showing how the upper few metres have been truncated by quarrying. The handholds are clearly visible.

Well 116 has a consistent set of AMS dates indicating the later 10^th millennium BP. It contains human remains which therefore rank as early, if not the earliest, human remains recovered from Cyprus. In co-operation with the Centre National de Recherche Scientifique (Orleans) it has been possible to demonstrate that large quantities of associated obsidian come from Central Anatolian (Gollu Dag) sources. The flora includes domestic barley; the fauna, sheep, goat and pig. This assemblage provides critical and explicit evidence for the neolithisation of Cyprus and for carefully prepared, long-distance colonisation movements of farmers much earlier than previously recognized. Chipped stone evidence suggests that these colonisers practised an early PPNB lithic technology, an important indicator of the origins of these groups.

A second well, 133, should be dated to the late 9^th millennium BP according to AMS dates from Lolium sp and Pistacia. Of the same constructional character as well 116, it points to prolonged continuity for the usage of Mylouthkia. This usage involved settled occupation since nearby are vestiges of timber-bordered hollows with floors and hearths, a form of curvilinear architecture that presumably developed later into the stone-based curvilinear structures of the Khirokitia culture.

This well contained deliberately placed skulls of at least four individuals, some nested together at the edge of the well fill beside whole caprine carcases that were dumped/placed in the centre. A rare macehead accompanied one of these detached skulls. That special treatment of skulls, consistent with PPNB practice, was part of these colonisers’ traditions is clear from one well-preserved case which possessed occipital deformation or "head shaping". This tradition is pronounced in the later Khirokitia culture. There are, therefore, a growing number of indications that we are dealing with ancestral links for the Khirokitian population and that a lengthy antecedent evolution took place on the island before the emergence of the latter.

After some 70 years of research on the island, Mylouthkia, and the French excavations at Shillourokambos, are providing evidence for very early colonisation of a Mediterranean island. Both sites possess traits consistent with what can be referred to as the Cypro-PPNB. More early agricultural sites should occur on the island, but as these excavated examples comprise entirely negative and in some cases deflated features, more attention in future surveys will have to be given to flint scatters rather than upstanding remains and stone tool kits of Khirokitia type.

Work proceeds on the publication of two articles on Mylouthkia 1 and the final publication of the whole site.

West Cyprus Survey 1999

During the 1970s and early 1980s the Project surveyed some 65 Neolithic-Bronze Age sites in 600 km² of west Cyprus. The immediate aim of this aspect of our investigations is to integrate survey data with the more detailed evidence obtained from Project excavations at Kissonerga-Mosphilia, Kissonerga-Mylouthkia and Lemba-Lakkous in the Ktima Lowlands. Our long-term aim is to provide a regional study of the prehistory of a Mediterranean island.

As a result of our 1976-1996 excavation programme, we have been able to refine the chronology of much prehistoric Cypriot pottery. With this enhanced chronological tool to hand, we sytematically re-surveyed 25 key sites to date them more precisely than had been possible and to define intra-site variation, settlement drift patterns amongst cluster formations and settlement hierarchies. On a macro-scale, our goal is to establish the nature of relations between and changing configurations of sedentary occupations particularly in the later 3rd millennium BC when Anatolian influence starts to predominate in the Cypriot archaeological record. Together with data from other archaeological surveys, the research will provide the first comprehensive overview of prehistoric settlement systems in western Cyprus. We will evaluate suspected contemporary differences between sites in distinct ecological zones as a contribution to debates on archaeological ‘cultures’.

Students on the West Cyprus Survey processing survey material at the LARC. Photo E. Peltenburg.

The survey was the focus of a summer Field School. Undergraduates from Edinburgh, Oxford and London participated in a one week orientation programme followed by two weeks of surface collection. Prof. Peltenburg, Drs. Diane Bolger, Paul Croft and Carole McCartney as well as Lindy Crewe, Katleen Deckers and Sorina Spanou taught the first week induction part of the School.

We surveyed some 25 neolithic and chalcolithic sites in the Akamas peninsula, Ktima Plateau, Ktima Lowlands and two major river drainage basins. A small number are LNeo and these occur in the Peyia area and in one remote inland region. This odd distribution may be simply a reflection of archaeological visibility, but it is likely that population figures remained low in the 5^th millennium BC. Most sites belong to the Chalcolithic period. There are only a few of the EChal, however, hence a real population expansion occurred after that time, in the very late 4^th millennium BC. In most zones, sites are small (<4 ha), so there is an important contrast between the northern Ktima Lowland sites, where sites are 4 – 11 ha, and the rest of the region. The distribution of EChal sites suggests dispersed settlement in what became nodal positions prior to in-fill of the landscape.

The Iron Age long-house under excavation in 1999 at Morgantina.. Photo R. Leighton.

Numbers of sites during the LChal may have reached the same or exceeded those of the MChal. Excavations in the Ktima Lowlands had led to the expectation that pottery became standardised. While the shift from decorated to monochrome remains real enough, standardisation did not occur save for what might be called ‘fine’ wares. These are common in the Ktima Lowlands, rare elsewhere. The pattern requires further evaluation. At the same time, some sites yield only a limited repertoire of vessel shapes and wares. This is suggestive of the existence of small, limited activity sites, perhaps specialised communities who occupied those localities for a limited period.

Since this year’s programme was dedicated to the survey, most results will emerge only after part two of the programme, intra and inter-site evaluation of the data, is complete.

Acknowledgements: The Field Survey was carried out with the generous support of the British Academy and the Institute for Aegean Prehistory.

Morgantina (Sicily)

Robert Leighton

During June and July I directed excavations at Morgantina (Sicily) on behalf of the Archaeological Superintendency for the province of Enna, with financial support from the latter and the Universities of Virginia, Wesleyan and Princeton. The site is of particular interest to prehistoric archaeology on account of occupation deposits of Early Bronze and Early Iron Age date often encountered beneath the levels of the Archaic and Hellenistic city, which extends for several hectares across a ridge overlooking the Gornalunga river valley (east-central Sicily). An Iron Age ‘long-house’ (9-8^th century BC) was the main focus of investigation in 1999, the fifth well-preserved example of such a building to have come to light on a conical hill called the Cittadella (literally ‘citadel’). Part of the structure was first discovered in a sounding of 1961 by Princeton University, reinvestigated and extended by the author in 1990. The building was created by levelling the limestone bedrock on gently sloping terrain, creating a vertical cut against the slope, which was buttressed with a timber-laced stone wall. A series of evenly-spaced postholes across the centre of the floor supported the superstructure. The full extent of the building (currently 14m long x 5m wide) is not yet known. The floor deposit (single phase) contained hearths and terracotta cooking-stands, millstones, quantities of pottery (including large storage jars) and animal bone.

The Iron Age long-house under excavation in 1999 at Morgantina.. Photo R. Leighton.

One aim of the excavation is to shed light on the transformations that occurred within indigenous sites between the Early Iron Age and the so-called ‘early colonial’ or Archaic period, when urban layouts underwent radical alteration and elaboration; further changes (notably in burial practice and socio-economic organization) within indigenous communities are often ascribed to increasing contacts with coastal colonies (Syracuse, Catania and Gela) and the extension of their territories inland, although a balanced evalutaiton of the processes involved has been hindered hitherto by the comparative lack of excavations in Early Iron Age habitation sites.

Other archaeological work included:

• research in collaboration with Dr. John E. Dixon (Dept. of Geology, Edinburgh University) on the provenancing of Neolithic ground stone tools from the Aeolian islands and Malta.
• acting as archaeological guide-lecturer for visits to Sicily, Sardinia and southern Etruria (cf. The Observer, Sunday, 5 December 1999, p.8-9)
• peer reviewing for Antiquity, the Oxford Journal of Archaeology and the Cambridge Archaeological Journal.
• research for Tarquinia: the making of an Etruscan city. (contracted to Duckworth & Co. for 2001).

 

Dumbuck Crannog – past and present

Alex Hale & Rob Sands

On July 31^st 1898, William Donnelley, an artist and amateur archaeologist, found the remains of a round wooden structure, some 15 metres in diameter, on the shore of the north bank of the Clyde just east of Dumbarton Rock. The platform, surrounded a central pit, and was in turn surrounded by 27 piles. A "refuse bed" was said to encircle the platform and around the refuse bed a ring of wood and then stone was reported.

During late August of 1898 the Helensburgh Naturalist and Antiquarian Society started an excavation, led by John Bruce, William Donnelly and Adam Miller. Shortly after the excavation commenced, an 11m long canoe was discovered sitting in a boat dock and the first of a series of "weird" objects were uncovered. The "weird" objects came to dominate the discussion of the site and led to a series of increasingly acrimonious exchanges in the Glasgow and Edinburgh press. The excavators were convinced of their genuine nature whilst Dr. Robert Munro, the father of Scottish Crannog studies, consistently cast doubt upon the antiquity of the objects.

By the middle of 1899 the excavations at Dumbuck had ceased. In October of that year Bruce asked the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland if they would continue excavations at Dumbuck, but his requests were refused. It is interesting to note that at the same meeting as the letter from Bruce was considered Dr. Munro was appointed as a councillor of the Society.

Recent radiocarbon determinations from the site give a date, when calibrated, some where between first century BC and first century AD. Our 1999 investigations have involved a complete resurvey of the currently visible structure and the excavation of small off-site trenches in an attempt to establish the material upon which the site was built. A series of samples were taken and are in the process of being analysed. A dendrochronological sample from one of the piles surrounding the central platform was also obtained during the 1999 fieldwork season.

Combining the current survey with one done by the Clyde Navigation Authority at the time of the excavation has not only demonstrated the accuracy of the previous survey but also enabled us to relocate a number of features that are no longer obvious on the ground. We plan to revisit the site this summer to open a small trench against the edge of the central platform to confirm and expand on the previous excavator’s observations.

Dumbuck continues to be a fascinating investigation into the Iron Age use of the Clyde and into the minds of 19^th century antiquarians.

Thanks are due to Historic Scotland for their continued support of this project. We would also like to thank Simon Gilmour for his help with the survey and Penmap, Adrian Tams for his sedimentological analysis and Dr Anne Crone of AOC for her help obtaining and analysing dendrochronological samples.

 

The Scottish Crannog Survey.

T. Nicholas Dixon

At the beginning of the year the Scottish Crannog Survey was formed. The overall aims and objectives of the SCS are to broaden the scope of work done on crannogs to date and, to eventually, survey all of the lochs in Scotland.

Two preliminary surveys were carried out in 1999 and follow-up investigations are planned for 2000.

Barnsdale Castle, Rescobie Loch

Introduction.: On Sunday 11^th April, as part of the Archaeology Department 1^st year field school and the Scottish Crannog Survey, a short survey was carried out in Rescobie Loch, Forfar to establish whether the site of Barnsdale Castle is the remains of an artificial island and to assess the state of remains of the site. The survey was also a training exercise for fieldschool students. The loch was chosen because the surrounding area had been surveyed as part of the field school in previous years.

The only site referred to in the loch is Barnsdale Castle which is reported from the nineteenth century as being the remains of an artificial island. The island was examined and two groups of five students took turns in snorkelling the adjacent shoreline to east and west to see whether there were visible features in the shallows.

Barnsdale Castle. (NGR: NO 5103 5177)

The loch is first recorded in 1866 in an article by John Stuart, the Secretary of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland at the time, where it is merely named and no reference is made to a specific island in it. (Stuart 1866, 176). It is also referred to by Robert Munro in Ancient Scottish Lake Dwellings, p. 246 but he merely reiterates Stuart's reference.

The site was examined by snorkelling and was planned by EDM from a shore station. Visibility was not good owing to the substantial amount of suspended particles raised from the soft, silty lochbed by wind generated currents. The bottom of the loch was almost wholly obscured by thick roots and weeds. The loch shore is ringed by reeds in many places.

Initial examination indicated that there is no obvious evidence of the site having been an artificial island. Some stones were seen in the north-east part of the island but they did not show any evidence of linearity or pattern. The main problem with the site is that it is wholly overgrown with substantial roots of the few scrubby trees on the island and underwater by the roots of a water plant. These roots are as thick as an arm and cover the lochbed around the island for a substantial area. Where stones were observed on the island they are apparently on top of the roots as well as underneath them. It has to be assumed that the stones are anthropogenically deposited as it is unlikely that the roots grew under and lifted them, though this is not impossible.

The plan of the site drawn from the EDM data shows an irregularly shaped island which supports the visual observation of the snorkellers. In selecting points for survey it was only possible to use the obvious edge of the vegetation raft as delineating a defined change in slope but this edge is unlikely to equate to any manmade feature except in the roughest of ways. The outline is unlike the more regular outline seen in other artificial islands and does not indicate artificial construction.

About ten metres off the island to the north-west, three upright stakes were observed projecting from the lochbed. They appear to have been roughly squared but that may be the effects of erosion over time. It is not possible to say whether these stakes are associated with the island and it is not possible at this time to speculate as to their function in the loch.

The survey carried out in Loch Rescobie did not produced evidence that the site indicated on the maps as Barnsdale Castle is of artificial construction. However, such a cursory search was not sufficient to cover a large area and other features may exist in the loch. The weeds and roots mentioned above are sufficiently thick to obscure major features.

Further survey of the rest of the loch would be useful. Remote sensing techniques, such as sidescan sonar and sub-bottom profiling could give an initial view of lochbed features. Aerial photography, specifically taken to minimise the effect of the water, would also be productive. Any targets observed by these methods could be confirmed by snorkelling or diving.

Stuart, J. 1866. Notices of Scottish Crannogs and of analogous remains in other countries, in 'Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Vol VI, Part I'.

Munro, R. 1882. Ancient Scottish Lake Dwellings. David Douglas. Edinburgh.

Acknowledgements: Thanks to Derek Alexander and the members of the Field School for the opportunity to look at Rescobie Loch, for help in putting the students in the water and for organising the shore survey.

Preliminary survey of Linlithgow Loch.

Introduction: As part of the Scottish Crannog Survey, a preliminary investigation of Linlithgow Loch was carried out in the Spring of 1999 as a precursor to a fuller survey in the summer (which, unfortunately, could not take place). The loch is the property of Historic Scotland and was chosen for its proximity to Edinburgh, its historical importance and the existence of three or four small islands.

Aims: On Wed. 7^th, Mon. 12^th and Tues. 13^th April 1999, members of the SCS from the Dept of Archaeology, made a short visit to Linlithgow Loch to make contact with various individuals and organisations and to inform them of the intention to carry out archaeological survey work in the loch. The opportunity was also taken to walk the shores of the loch and observe the water to establish whether visibility was likely to be good enough to carry out useful work underwater. This was followed by a snorkel survey to allow closer examination of the small islands in the loch and the condition of the lochbed in general.

Survey Results:

Shoreline: A path circumnavigates the loch, except in one short area, on the south shore at the east end, where a local resident has a garden extending to the shoreline. The path gives a good view of the loch and its immediate surroundings. The water of the loch looked relatively clear in most places with the exception of the west end of the south shore where there are large numbers of wildfowl which are regularly fed by visitors to the loch. The bird droppings, remains of rotting food and the action of the birds disturbing the lochbed in their search for food probably all contribute to the relative murkiness of the water in this area.

With the exception of Linlithgow Palace and its associated structures, there are no other obvious archaeological features adjoining the loch.

Preliminary snorkel survey. SCS members from the Department of Archaeology carried out a preliminary survey in the loch to establish whether the visible islands are artificial or natural and to see whether the water of the loch was clear enough to carry out full-scale survey in the summer. Observation from the shore already suggested that the water was reasonably clear. The survey was carried out using only snorkels so observations were restricted to the limits of visibility.

The first task was familiarisation and to make an initial assessment of the loch waters. The loch was seen from the shore in the first visit to be murky at the west end. Towards the middle and the east end, the water was clearer and visibility was reasonable to a depth of about one and a half metres. There was some fine silt in suspension and this became more prevalent near the shore when the wind was blowing waves against the side. It is likely that in summer the conditions will be better with less rainfall and less wind, however, local observers say that the loch is prone to algal blooms in the summer that can cloud the water for considerable periods.

Crannog 1. NGR: NT002776

The first island examined is noted on the map as 'The Rickle'. It lies 70 metres from the south loch shore and the stony makeup of the site indicates that it is almost certainly of artificial construction. It measures about 10 metres in diameter and stands about one metre above the water. It is the support for the nests of ducks and at least one swan. The stones of which the site is constructed are similar to those seen on many other crannogs around Scotland. The stones were visible to the depth of visibility on the day of the survey and it will require diving equipment to establish the outline of the site on the lochbed.

Crannog 2. NGR: NT007778

The other significant island in the loch proved to be very similar in makeup and height above the water to the first site and is also almost certainly artificial. It is also the nesting site for ducks and swans. Again the stones that make up the island were too deep to establish the outline of the site and diving is required. There were no obviously artificial timbers visible at the time of survey.

Other sites examined.

Near the south-east corner of the loch are what superficially appear to be two small islands with trees on them. Upon examination they appear to be where trees have propagated in the shallows and in succeeding periods have built up sufficient nutrients to support ongoing growth. There are fallen limbs and branches in the water around these small islands but there are no stones or other evidence that they were artificially constructed islands in the past.

Crannog survey along the loch shore.

The park constable, Mr McCraggan, reported that Strathclyde Police Divers when they were diving in the loch had seen the remains of a supposed crannog between Crannog One (The Rickle) and the south shore and a little to the west. The feature was not observed by the team on this occasion.

Personnel.:The survey was carried out by Dr Dixon and students, Bradley Hull, Peter Gibb and Darcey Francis of the Department of Archaeology, in conjunction with the Scottish Trust for Underwater Archaeology.

Acknowledgements:: Richard Hingley, Doreen Grove and Susan Loch of Historic Scotland. Mrs Westwater, Monument Manager of Linlithgow Palace, and her staff. Jim McCraggan, Park Constable of Linlithgow Royal Park. Jack Stevenson and Lesley Ferguson of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Colin Scott of West Lothian Council. George Thompson of the Low Port Centre. Mr Gilmour, Forth Federation of Anglers. Bradley Hull, Peter Gibbs and Darcey Francis of the Department of Archaeology, University of Edinburgh.

 

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Public Archaeology

See section 6 The Lemba Archaeological Research Centre, p 40.

See section 7 The Scottish Trust for Underwater Archaeology, p 41.

 

Lemba Experimental Village.

Gordon Thomas.

The Lemba Experimental Village in Cyprus saw a very quiet year in 1999. Work continued with monitoring and repair of some of the structures in keeping with the twin programmes of site management and research into site formation processes. It is anticipated that further excavation will take place in 2000 on several of the experimental structures in anticipation of the publication of a monograph on buildings and their role in site formation processes.

This year saw the publication of a guide book to the site under the auspices of the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation in their series of guide books on Cypriot archaeological sites. This was produced thanks to the kind efforts of Dr. Maria Iacovou formerly the director of the Foundation and currently Professor of Archaeology at the University of Cyprus. The guide book covers the work being done at the experimental village as well as giving a general introduction to the archaeology of Chalcolithic Cyprus and acting as a guide to the sites of Lemba and Kissonerga both excavated by Professor Peltenburg. The guide book is available for sale in the village of Lemba and at other sites and museums throughout the island. It is one of the most popular guide books in the series.

The work of the Lemba Experimental Village will also feature in an exhibition scheduled to be held in late summer 2000 in Germany. The exhibition will feature site presentation in the Mediterranean area and is being co-ordinated by Dr. Despo Pilides of the Cyprus Department of Antiquities.

The main focus of research work this year, however, has been the preparation for publication of the first report on the experimental village dealing with prehistoric buildings.

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Principal publications 

Alexander, Derek

1998: with Bogdan N. Q., & Grounsell J. "A late medieval hall-house at Uttershill Castle, Penicuik, Midlothian", Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 128 (1998), 1017-1046.

1998: with Watkins T., "St Germains, Tranent, East Lothian: the excavation of Early Bronze Age remains and Iron Age enclosed and unenclosed settlements", Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 128 (1998), 203-254.

1999: with Ralston I., "Survey work on Turin Hill, Angus" Tayside and Fife Archaeological Journal, vol 5 (1999), 36-49.

1999: "Redcastle Barrow Cemetery", Current Archaeology 166, 395-397.

Bonsall, Clive

1999: with Kitchener, A.C., Bartosiewicz, L. 1999. "AMS ¹⁴C dating and the Mesolithic faunal record." In E. Cziesla, T. Kersting & S. Pratsch (eds) Den Bogen spannen ...: Festschrift für Bernhard Gramsch, vol. 1. Weißbach, Beier & Beran (Archäologische Fachliteratur): 99–106.

1999; with Boronean, V., McSweeney, K., Payton, R. & Macklin, M.G. 1999. A Mesolithic burial area at Schela Cladovei, Romania’. In A. Thévenin (ed.) L’Europe des Derniers Chasseurs: Épipaléolithique et Mésolithique. (Actes du 5^e colloque international UISPP, commission XII, Grenoble, 18–23 septembre 1995). Paris, Éditions du Comité des Travaux Historiques et Scientifiques: 385–390.

1999: with Kitchener, A.C. 1999. "Further AMS radiocarbon dates for extinct Scottish mammals." Quaternary Newsletter, 88: 1–10.

1999: with Johnson, L.L. 1999. "Mesolithic adaptations on offshore islands: the Aleutians and Western Scotland." In E. Cziesla, T. Kersting & S. Pratsch (eds) Den Bogen spannen ...: Festschrift für Bernhard Gramsch, vol. 1. Weißbach, Beier & Beran (Archäologische Fachliteratur): 107–115. 

Cerón-Carrasco, Ruby

1998: 'Fishing: Evidence for Seasonality and Processing of Fish for Preservation in the Northern Isles of Scotland During the Iron Age and Norse Times'. Papers from the 1994 AEA Conference at Zwartsluis, Netherlands. Environmental Archaeology 3. Journal of Human Palaeoecology.

1998: 'The fish bone assemblage from St. Boniface, Papa Westray, Orkney', in Lowe C. St. Boniface Church, Orkney: Coastal Erosion and Archaeological Assessment. Sutton Publications, Edinburgh & Historic Scotland.

1998: 'The fish remains from Scalloway, Shetland', in Sharples, N., Scalloway on Shetland: A Broch and its Environments. Oxbow Monograph 82.

1998: 'The fish remains', in Ewart G. & Baker F., "Carrick Castle: symbol and source of Campbell power in south Argyll from the 11th to 17th century". Proceedings of the Soc. Antiq. Scot. Vol 128, 992-4

1999: with R. Barrett & J.H. Nicholson R. A., "Archaeo-icthyological Evidence for Long Term Economic Trends in Northern Scotland: 3500 BC to 1500 AD'. Journal of Archaeological Science. Vol. 26, No. 4, 353-388.

1999: 'The fish remains from Dun Vulan, South Uist', in Parker-Pearson M. & Sharples N., "Between Land and Sea. Excavations at Dun Vulan, South Uist'" Sheffield Academic Press.

Church, Mike

1999: with Peters C. and Coles G., "Mineral magnetism and archaeology at Galson on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland", Geophysical Research Abstracts, 1(1), 135

1999: with Peters C.,& Mitchell C., "Investigation of domestic fuel sources on Lewis using mineral magnetism", Archaeological Prospection, Arbeitsheft 108, 72-73

Clarke, Ciara.M.

1998: "Palynological analysis of burnt mound material", in Strachan et al 1998 (1999) Neolithic and later prehistoric structures, and early medieval metal-working at Blairhall Burn, Amisfield, Dumfriesshire. Proc Soc Antiq Scot 128: 55-94.

1998: Palynological investigations of a Bronze Age cist burial from Whitsome, Scottish Borders, Scotland. Journal of Archaeological Science 26: 553-560.

1998: with Utsi, E and Utsi, V. Ground-penetrating radar investigations at North Ballachulish Moss, Highland, Scotland. Archaeological Prospection 6:107-121.

1998: with Hingley, R., Ashmore, P. and Sheridan, A. Peat, archaeology and palaeoecology in Scotland. Bog Bodies, Sacred sites and wetland archaeology. WARP (Wetland Archaeology Research Project) Occasional Paper 12: 105-114.

Cressey, Mike

1998: contribution in Ewart G. and Baker F., 1999 "Carrick Castle: symbol and source of Campbell power in south Argyll from the 14^th to the 17^th century", Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 128 (1998), 937-1016.

with Dawson S., Dawson A., Bunting J., Long D. and Milburn, P., "Newbie Cottages, Inner Solway Firth: Holocene relative sea level changes." The Quaternary of Dumfries and Galloway Field Excursion Guide

Croft, Paul

1998: "Faunal Materials from Ais Yiorkis", pp 5-6, in A.H.Simmons "Test Excavations at Two Aceramic Neolithic Sites in the Uplands of Western Cyprus", Report of the Department of Antiquities, Cyprus, 1-16.

1999: (with E.Peltenburg and G.Thomas) Lemba and Kissonerga Nicosia: Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation (Guide Book Series)

Dunwell, Andy

1998 with Rees A., "Excavation of cropmark features at Drum Farm, Bo`ness, West Lothian," Proc Soc Antiq Scot, Vol 128 1998 p 419 – 425.

1999: with Finlayson W. L., G. Coles & I. B. M .Ralston, "The Angus and South Aberdeenshire Field School of the Department of Archaeology, University of Edinburgh - research design," Tayside and Fife Archaeological Journal, 5 (1999): 28-35.

1999 with G. Coles, "Archaeological and Palynological Investigations on the Antonine Wall near Glasgow Bridge, Kirkintilloch," Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 128, 1998 (1999), 461-479.

with Trout R. C., Burrowing Animals and Archaeology. Historic Scotland, Edinburgh [=Technical Advice Note, 16]

Hamilton, Naomi

"Re-thinking Burial and Society at Catalhoyuk." Neo-lithics: A newsletter of Southwest Asian Lithics Research. Issue 3/98, 7-8.

Leighton, Robert

1999: Sicily before History. An Archaeological Survey from the Palaleolithic to the Iron Age, Gerald Duckworth & Co., London; co-published in the USA by Cornell University Press.

1999: "Reflections on San Teodoro 1-7 and recent sex changes in the Upper Palaeolithic" in Whitehouse, R.D. (ed) Gender and Italian Archaeology. Challenging the Stereotypes: 45-55 Accordia Research Centre, Institute of Archaeology, UCL, London

1999: "Indigenous Society between the ninth and sixth centuries BC: territorial, urban and social evolution". Chapter 1 in Smith, C.J. and Serrati, J. (eds), Ancient Sicily: Archaeology and History from Aeneas to Augustus. Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press.

1999: "Time versus Tradition: Iron Age chronologies in Sicily and southern Italy" in Pearce, M., Ridgway, D. & Whitehouse, R. (eds) Italy in its Mediterranean Setting. Studies in honour of Ellen Macnamara. Accordia Research Centre, Institute of Archaeology, UCL, London.

Midgley, Magdalena S.

1998 Bylany as an educational experience: a view from abroad. In: Pavlu (ed) Bylany Varia 1, 47-52, Prague.

Peltenburg, Eddie

1998: et al. Lemba Archaeological Project (Cyprus) II.1A. Excavations at Kissonerga-Mosphilia, 1979 1992 (Studies in Mediterranean Archaeology 70:2). Astrom Verlag, Jonsered,.

1998: et al. Lemba Archaeological Project (Cyprus) II.1B Parts 1 and 2). Excavations at Kissonerga Mosphilia, 1979-1992, University of Edinburgh, Department of Archaeology, Occasional Publication 19; Edinburgh. and http://www.arcl.ed.ac.uk/arch/publications/cyprus/kissonerga/ index

1999: with Paul Croft and Gordon Thomas, Lemba and Kissonerga (The Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation) Nicosia.

Jerablus Tahtani, Syria on the World Wide Web at

http://www.arcl.ed.ac.uk/arch/jerablus/jerahome.html

1998: with S. Pickles, "Metallurgy and the Bronze/Iron transition in the East Mediterranean and the Near East", Report of the Department of Antiquities, Cyprus, 67-100.

1998: "Excavations at Jerablus Tahtani in the Kingdom of Ancient Carchemish: A threatened site of the Euphrates River, North Syria", in A. McQuitty et al., Syrian-British Archaeological Cooperation. Damascus. 1-2.

1999: "Report on Jerablus Tahtani 1998", Levant 31, 315-316

Ralston, Ian

1998: {with Büchsenschütz, O. E. and Schubert, F.} "Les fortifications", pp. 18-21 in eds Gruel, Kathérine and Vitali, D., "L’oppidum de Bibracte; un bilan de onze années de recherche (1984 - 1995)", Gallia 55, 1998, 1-140.

1998: {with Murray, Diana M.} "The excavation of a square-ditched barrow and other cropmarks at Boysack Mills, Inverkeilor, Angus", Proc Soc Antiq Scot 127, 1997 (1998), 359 - 386.

1999: {with Strachan, R.J., Hamilton, J. E., and Armit, I.} "Excavations of two iron processing sites at Scabgill and Boghall, Clydesdale, 1991", Glasgow Archaeol Journ 21, 53-60.

1999: {with Strachan, R.. and Finlayson, B.} "The excavation of Neolithic and later prehistoric structures, and Early Medieval iron-working at Blairhall Burn, Amisfield, Dumfries and Galloway", Proc Soc Antiq Scot 128, 55-94.

1999: {with Alexander, D.} "Survey work on Turin Hill, Angus", Tayside and Fife Archaeological Journal 5, 36-49.

1999: {with Finlayson, B., Coles, G., and Dunwell, A.} "The Angus and South Aberdeenshire field school of the Department of Archaeology, University of Edinburgh - research design", Tayside and Fife Archaeological Journal 5, 28-35.

1999: {with Büchsenschütz, O. E. and Guillaumet, J.-P. (dir).} Les remparts de Bibracte: recherches récentes sur la Porte du Rebout et le tracé des fortifications. 316pp. Glux-en-Glenne: Collection Bibracte, 3.

1999: "The Iron Age: aspects of the human communities and their environments", Quaternary Proceedings 7, 501-512. = eds Edwards, K. J. and Sadler, J. Holocene environments of prehistoric Britain. Chichester: John Wiley.

1999: {with Hunter, J. R.} "Chapter 1: British archaeology since the end of the Second World War", in eds. Hunter, J. R. and Ralston, I. B. M. The archaeology of Britain: an introduction from the Upper Palaeolithic to the Industrial Revolution, 1-12. London: Routledge.

1999: {as co-editor, with J. R. Hunter} The archaeology of Britain: an introduction from the Upper Palaeolithic to the Industrial Revolution. London: Routledge, xiv + 328 pp.

1999: {with Büchsenschütz, O. E. and Troadec, J.} L'occupation protohistorique du coteau de Lazenay, à Bourges, (Cher). Document finale de synthèse 1995-1998. Bourges: Service d'archéologie municipale de la ville de Bourges. 2 vols.

1999: "Stop Press! Archaeology after devolution", Scottish Archaeological News 29, Spring 1999, 16.

Strachan, Richard J.

1998 with Ralston, I. & Finlayson, B. "Neolithic and later prehistoric structures, and early medieval iron-working at Blairhall Burn, Amisfield, Dumfriesshire." Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot. 128 (1998), 55-94.

1998: contribution in Armit, I., "Re-excavation of an Iron Age wheelhouse and earlier structure at Eilean Maliet, North Uist." Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot. 128 (1998), 255-271

1999: "Excavations at Albie Hill, Applegarthtown, Annandale, Dumfries and Galloway", Transactions of the Dumfries and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society, LXXIII (1999), 9-16.

1999: with Hamilton, J. E., Armit, I. and Ralston, I. B. M. 1999 "Excavations of Two Iron Processing Sites at Scabgill and Boghall, Clydesdale, 1991", Glasgow Archaeological Journal, Volume 21, 1999, 53-60.

Tams, Adrian

1999: Bostadh Beach: A GeoArchaeological Investigation using a Pedological Technique. In: Proceedings of the 15th INQUA International Congress, Durban, South Africa. (To be published March 2000)

Thomas, Gordon

1998: "The Structural Components of Buildings" in Lemba Archaeological Project (Cyprus) II.1A. Excavations at Kissonerga-Mosphilia, 1979 1992 (Studies in Mediterranean Archaeology 70:2). Astrom Verlag, Jonsered, 1998, 54-64

1998 "Catalogue of building elements" in Lemba Archaeological Project (Cyprus) II.1B Parts 1 and 2). Excavations at Kissonerga Mosphilia, 1979-1992, University of Edinburgh, Department of Archaeology, Occasional Publication 19; Edinburgh 1998, and also at:

http://super3.arcl.ed.ac.uk/arch/publications/cyprus/kissonerga/ index

1999: with Paul Croft and Eddie Peltenburg, Lemba and Kissonerga (The Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation) Nicosia.

1999: "Research and education: the Lemba Experimental Village, Cyprus." Conservation and Management of Archaeological Sites, vol 3 (1 & 2), 109-123.

Watkins, Trevor

1996: ‘The Origins of the Household in North Mesopotamia.’ In Veenhof, K. R. (ed.) Houses and Households in Ancient Mesopotamia: 79-88. Nederlands Historisch-Archaeologisch Instituut te Istanbul, Leiden.

1996: ‘Excavations at Pinarbasi: the early stages.’ In Hodder, I. (ed.), On the Surface: Çatalhöyük 1993-95: 47-58. McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, Cambridge and British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara, London.

1998: ‘Centres and peripheries: the beginnings of sedentary communities in N Mesopotamia.’ In Lebeau, M. (ed.), About Subartu: Studies devoted to Upper Mesopotamia: 1-12. BREPOLS, Turnhout, Belgium.

 

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Degrees awarded and Dissertations

MA with Honours in Archaeology

MA with Honours in Ancient Civilisations of the

Mediterranean and Middle East

MA with Honours in Archaeology and Social Anthropology

B.Sc. with Honours in Environmental Archaeology

Ph.D.

Joanne T. CLARK;Regional Variation in the Ceramics of Neolithic Cyprus: Implications for the Socio-Economic and Cultural Dynamics of a Prehistoric Island Society

Muge SEVKETOGLU;Archaeological Field Survey of the Neolithic and Chalcolithic Settlement Sites in Kyrenia District, North Cyprus: systematic surface collection and the interpretation of artefact scatters

M.Phil.

Georgia MORTZOU;Cultural Adaptations in the Balkans 12000-6000 BP

MA Dissertation Titles

James Berk;Sedentism in the Epi-Palaeolithic of the Near East

Martin Cook;Aspects of the Funerary Rites of the Pre-Christian Iron Age in Scotland

Mairi Davies;Later Prehistoric Settlement Patterns in the Roman Frontier Area of Perthshire: their interpretation and significance

Robert Engl;The Quartz & Coarse Stone Assemblage of Schela Cladovei (Romania), an analysis of technological organisation, distribution & chronology

Alan Forgie;Neolithic Long Barrows & Ard Marks: cultivation, continuity and symbolism

Sarah-Jane Haston;New methods for the in situ testing of archaeological soils and sediments

Katherine Haw;Death & Burial in Villanovan Bologna: a study of mortuary assemblages & their interpretation

Robin Inglis;A Preliminary Investigation of the Changing Prehistoric Land use of the Callanish Area, Isle of Lewis

Alan Matthews;A Study of Later Prehistoric Settlement Patterns in Selected Parts of South West Scotland

Gordon McDowall;"From Farmers to Fighters". The Transition from the LBA to the IA in the Western & Northern Isles

Callum Mitchell;Fire, Function and Filth; the experimental archaeology of domestic fire in Lewis

Stuart Mitchell;Seeing the Invisible: Indigenous Foragers in the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition in the Paris Basin

Christopher Thompson;A Cognitive Approach towards the Origins of Religion

Tamsin Wilkinson;Worked Bone in the IA of the Western Isles with specific ref. to developments in the Bhaltos peninsula, Isle of Lewis

Leomie Willoughby-Ellis;Aspects of the Maritime Interaction Network of Middle Asia during the Middle to Late Bronze Age

MA Dissertation abstracts

The following abstracts relate to final year archaeology dissertations completed in 1999. Copies are held in the Department and may be consulted by arrangement. (Copyright is retained by the authors.)

James Berk, Sedentism in the Epi-Palaeolithic of the Near East

Archaeological work on sedentism during the Epipalaeolithic of the Near East has been concentrated on sites within the Mediterranean woodland zone of the Syria-Levant area. Because of this concentration it is commonly felt that the first sedentary sites were in this area. This dissertation examines sites which have been worked on in the past in other areas of the Near East, including Anatolia, northern Iraq, western Iran and North Africa, both within and outside woodland zones. Through a set of sedentism markers, their degrees of sedentism, compared to Syria-Levantine sites, are examined to try to decide whether this common view actually holds true. Due to a lack of usable data, it is only possible to conclude that some sites could have similar degrees of sedentism as those within Syria-Levant. Therefore, the final section includes suggestions on how, and at which sites, this work should be taken further.

Martin Cook, Aspects of the Funerary Rites of the Pre-Christian Iron Age in Scotland

This dissertation provides an outline of the funerary rites available during the Pre-Christian Iron Age (c.700 BC – AD 300) of Scotland.

The funerary rites of the Pre-Christian Iron Age are often misunderstood due to the extreme lack of evidence and hence lack of interpretation. This has resulted in the formulation of general theories, which are not altogether supported by the evidence.

These problems are discussed through the analysis of existing evidence, which has considered burials in their wider symbolic context. By studying the burials in relation to each other, the funerary rites of the surrounding periods, the landscape and surviving (contemporary) archaeological features, a reconstruction of the available funerary rites has been achieved. Through this reconstruction, a possible chronological sequence has been created for the funerary rites of the Pre-Christian Iron Age. It has further provided the framework for the establishment of three databases, which have classified and reclassified existing examples.

A series of research questions have been discussed and a suggested strategy for future work has been presented to help answer them. In the future, the acceptance of the importance of these issues, paralleled with research methods used, may lead to a more complete understanding of the funerary rites of the Pre-Christian Iron Age.

Mairi H. Davies, Later Prehistoric Settlement Patterns in the Roman Frontier area of Perthshire: Their Interpretation and Significance

The later prehistoric settlement record of Perthshire is characterised by a series of site types, surviving as cropmarks in heavily ploughed lowland areas and upstanding sites at higher altitudes. Despite the potential of this assemblage for elucidating issues relating to Iron Age society in the area, it has been subject to only a limited amount or research. This study seeks to characterise the nature and diversity of later prehistoric settlement in three sample transects bisected by the Roman Gask frontier, and examine its temporal and spatial distribution. It is based upon a reclassification of sites via consultation of aerial photographs held by the NMRS. The analysis also involves discussion of apparent patterns emergent, with reference to the multiple factors which could have affected them, including biases in recovery, topography, soil characteristics and the Roman military presence.

Unenclosed settlement sites appear to be concentrated in the alluvial flats of the major river valleys but this may not be a true reflection of the distribution pattern in the later prehistoric period, despite the economic advantages that are now apparent. Ditched ‘enclosure’ sites, in particular, also seem to offer possibilities for further investigation, in order to clarify issues of dating and function which cannot be determined without a programme of excavation. Those sites classified as ‘forts’ do bear similarities to some enclosure sites and it would be worth reassessing them in the light of such a study. Funerary sites seem to follow similar distribution patterns to unenclosed settlements, but may be subject to the same biases inherent in detection methods.

It seems that the issue of entrance orientation on Iron Age sites should also be addressed in considering the data from Perthshire, in order to ascertain whether this follows rigid patterns observed elsewhere. There is very little indication in the apparent settlement distribution of the extent of Roman impact upon it, but this situation could improve if dating sites in the area on morphological grounds is refined. A series of suggestions as to how the issues discussed could further be addressed is provided, based on a proposal for further analysis and investigation by fieldwork.

Robert Engl, The Quartz & Coarse Stone Assemblage of Schela Cladovei (Romania), an analysis of technological organisation, distribution & chronology

This dissertation describes the results of various lithic analyses concerned with the technological organisation, distribution, and their effect in the internal chronology of Schela Cladovei, a hunter-fisher site on the Iron Gates Gorge of Romania. For the purposes of analysis, the assemblage was classified into chipped and coarse stone categories.

Through the analyses, it was found that the procurement and utilisation of locally available raw materials remained remarkably stable throughout the sites occupation. This stability in raw material was mirrored in other aspects of the sites technological organisation; this was mainly associated with expedient core reduction techniques, This continuity has important implications for the study of the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition, and the continuing debate over the regions cultural continuity/discontinuity.

The analyses combined quantitative and morphological studies. This was a direct result of working with a large, quartz dominated assemblage. The assemblage size, the nature of the material and the scarcity of comparable site studies are all factors that contribute to the methodology employed in this dissertation.

The assemblage is unique in Iron Gates archaeology, as it is a direct result of a thorough sampling and excavation strategy. As such it is ideally placed to direct future research in this area.

Alan Forgie, Neolithic Long Barrows & Ard Marks: cultivation, continuity and symbolism

Ard-marks have been found preserved under longbarrows in well over one hundred instances throughout Europe. For many years it has been debated whether these marks should be interpreted as evidence of cultivation, as part of the process of barrow construction, or as an indication of ritual or symbolic activities. In this paper I shall examine the available information from over twenty sites throughout Britain. These sites range in date from the Mesolithic through to the Late Bronze Age.

Connections between ard-marks and barrows in Britain are, to an extent, limited. Whether this can be attributed to the poor archaeological techniques of those exploring these 'mounds' prior to the turn of the century is perhaps unclear. It is certainly the case that most barrows did not overlie ploughed soil. However, whilst these occurrences were a pan-European phenomenon, for the purposes of this dissertation I shall concentrate on the available evidence from Britain. This paper is therefore concerned with the identification and interpretation of these marks, principally in association with British long barrows and round barrows. Specifically, I shall concentrate on whether it is possible to identify evidence for the processes of ritualistic ploughing or site preparation activities and distinguish between them and 'everyday' primary crop cultivation.

Ben Greener: dissertation submitted to the Department of Classics

Sarah-Jane Haston, New methods for the in situ testing of archaeological soils and sediments

This dissertation details a study made on the West Coast of the Isle of Lewis, at the sites of Guinnerso East Moor and Gob Eirer, to establish the use of new methods for investigating soils and sediments in an archaeological context.

The penetrometer was tested as a means for measuring compaction in peat profiles at three sites on the moor, to allow comparison with samples stored in the laboratory, and those profiles which had previously been subjected to palaeoenvironmental analysis. Applications of the penetrometer was also assessed on archaeological soils at the main site of Guinnerso and Gob Eirer with the premise that they too would be correlated with established methods of palaeoenvironmental research.

The results suggest that the penetrometer is a useful tool in measuring compaction in peat and archaeological soils and sediments in both the field and in the laboratory. Correlation with humification (measured colorimetrically) shows that the penetrometer is a good field indicator of humification. Due to the limitations of this dissertation, however, the archaeological applications have still to be realised, though initial results look promising.

The instrument proved to be a quick and effective method of measurement, and following this detailed study, a number of further research questions have evolved. These are based around further study of the penetrometer in archaeological soils for comparison with established methods of analysis, in the hope that the penetrometer can be fully integrated into modern archaeological enquiry.

Katherine Haw, Death and Burial in Villanovan Bologna: a study of mortuary assemblages and their interpretation

This dissertation focuses on attempting to understand in greater detail, the Villanovan society of Bologna, c.9^th to the 6^th century BC as relayed by the mortuary record. The discovery of many large cemeteries in Bologna in the last century yielded some extraordinary finds that were notably distinguished from the contemporary excavations of nearby Etruscan cemeteries. Consequently some commendable efforts were made to explore this, though the recording of consequent excavation was not always secure and conclusions that have since been drawn have often accepted that certain artefacts may be out of context due to the dubious archiving of the material.

The Villanovans of Bologna deposited their dead in cremation tombs that maintained a certain degree of consistency throughout the duration of the Villanovan period. Bologna did not follow the path of other Villanovan sites where influences were often more impressed and readily absorbed into society due, for example, to the proximity of colonies, nor was it overwhelmed by the ‘Orientalising’ phenomenon that pervaded Villanovan culture, particularly to the south, as a result of trade and colonisation. However, the location of Bologna, in Northern Italy, was notably an excellent meeting point for the Mediterranean and Central European worlds, and this is inferred in the mortuary record. Further, it seems that bronze was an accessible commodity that eventually propelled Bologna headlong into an expansive trading network in Italy and abroad.

This dissertation has adopted a broad approach to the investigation of the Villanovans of Bologna; the more external features of this society are reflected in contact with other cultures. However, Villanovan society was itself a complex culture, and the mortuary assemblages imply as much. Much of this dissertation has been spent attempting to infer social status, rank and gender. Inevitably this has meant that certain characteristics, like the deposition of corredi or funerary ‘trosseaus’ have been relied upon as the basis for some suppositions. The increasing variety of funerary artefacts, and the symbolic value of some of them (remarkable vessels of worked metal) play a significant role in the development of this society. However, their significance is open to many interpretations, and correct ‘conclusions’ are not necessarily meant to be drawn. Consequently this dissertation focuses on some of the more unusual elements of this society in accordance with the understanding that a full and correct summation of this society is simply not feasible.

Matthew Haysom: dissertation submitted to the Department of Classics

Robin Inglis, A Preliminary Investigation of the Changing Prehistoric Land use of the Callanish Area, Isle of Lewis

This investigation outlines a sedimentalogical analysis examining the landuse changes in the Callanish area, Western Lewis, Scotland.

Following the excavation of some field boundaries in 1998 (Callanish Fields), combined with results from a site excavation in 1997 (Aird Callanish), a series of laboratory techniques were employed to study the changing farming activities. A peat section was taken from the fields next to the Callanish Farm, these were sub-sampled and processed in the Department of Archaeology, University of Edinburgh. The methods employed consisted of Moisture and Organic Content, Magnetic Susceptibility, Phosphate Analysis, pH and Humification. This approach allowed the changing activities to be pinpointed and defined by their unique signals.

The results indicate that there were four distinct periods of anthropogenic activity at the Callanish Fields site; while only one at Aird Callanish. The Aird Callanish and the first phase of Callanish Fields relate to the initial occupation of this site during the Late Neolithic / Early Bronze Age, Medieval and Post-Medieval (Victorian). The farming activities consist mainly of middening and stock control on the marginal land. The population pressure is also evidence from the use and re-use of what is essentially a peat bog.

Following these results a number of further work proposals are suggested for implementation in any future projects in this area. These involve pollen and archaeobotanical investigations to allow a more detailed analysis of the farming activities to be concluded.

Alan Matthews, A Study of Later Prehistoric Settlement Patterns in Selected Parts of South-West Scotland

This dissertation is a study of the nature and distribution of forts in Ayrshire in later prehistory. The first section is an introduction to Ayrshire and the prehistory of Ayrshire. This section looks at topography and geology of the county before examining previous works regarding its prehistoric settlement.

In the second chapter the types of field monument under examination and the general chronology which has been applied to the whole of Scotland are established. The forts and duns of Ayrshire are then reclassified according to recent theories and by physical examination of their remains.

In the last section the distribution of forts in Ayrshire with the significance of intervisibility in their positioning are examined. Form this examination it is possible to make some suggestions about the significance of these forts to the prehistoric population of Ayrshire. The intervisibility studies suggest a hierarchy of hillforts separate from Ayrshire’s duns.

The wider relationships between the forts and the agricultural land are discussed with reference to the Macaulay Institute maps of land quality. It is possible to suggest potential relationships with the islands of Arran and Bute and recognise similar patterns of settlement there.

It is necessary; however, to recognise the limitations placed on this study by not including other types of site in Ayrshire such as enclosures and crannogs.

Gordon McDowall, "From Farmers to Fighters". The Transition from the LBA to the IA in the Western & Northern Isles

The title of this Dissertation is "From Farmers to Fighters" and it discusses the transition from the Late Bronze Age to the Iron Age in the Western and Northern Isles.

The first chapter concentrates on giving the reader a general idea of the area of study. Within this it gives brief descriptions of the location, topography, climate, geology and recent archaeological investigation in the Western and Northern Isles. It is important to provide this information so that the reader understands the geographical area and the environmental influences that will effect the siting and development of settlement in this area within the periods being discussed.

The second chapter concentrates on the Northern Isles and in particular Shetland where there are two sites which are invaluable to the study of settlement development between the Bronze Age and Iron Age. These two sites are Jarlshof and Clickhimin. Within these sites I describe the structural and material developments through the Bronze Age and into the Iron Age where we see the construction of impressive brochs. As well as the structures I take into account the material evidence and combine the two to try and evaluate the way of life between these two periods.

Chapter three Discusses the transition in the Western Isles. Due to the extreme lack of evidence, structurally for the Late Bronze Age in the Western Isles, I chose to concentrate on the three earlier sites of Northton, Dalmore and An Dunan. These sites relate to the earlier Bronze Age however with the extensive preservation of later Roundhouses the comparison between the two types of architecture could give us a picture of what came in between the Early Bronze Age and the Iron Age. Also the discovery of bronze hoards helps us to reconstruct the possible political setting of the Western Isles during the Bronze Age.

Within my conclusion I sum up the evidence that I have discussed earlier in my dissertation and also use this to implement the gradual development of architecture in both the areas indigenously rather than the invasion of southern immigrants. I also highlight some of the problems in tackling this period with the lack of evidence, especially in the Western Isles, and the recent influence of new dating methods.

Callum Mitchell, Fire, Function and Filth; the experimental archaeology of domestic fire in Lewis

This dissertation details a working methodology for the identification of different fuel types burnt in domestic hearths from archaeological sites in Lewis, Scotland.

This was achieved through burning of known fuel types over three day periods in experimental hearth settings followed by laboratory analysis of the ash produced. This laboratory analysis was then repeated for samples taken from archaeological hearths in an attempt to identify different fuel types.

The results from the archaeological samples indicates that well humified peat was burnt in domestic hearths demonstrating peatland management from the sites investigated.

Stuart Mitchell, Seeing the Invisible: Indigenous Foragers in the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition in the Paris Basin

The transition from the Mesolithic to the Neolithic still has many unanswered questions. Much of the thought surrounding the transition is based upon normative assumptions of the mesolithic hunter-gatherers, and most of the research on this appears to approach the Mesolithic and Neolithic evidence separately. Mesolithic foragers are characterised in the archaeological record by little beyond stone tools. They left scant traces of any other latently cultural materials, and as such are invisible under the rich deposits of the succeeding Neolithic. The processes of the transition remains one of the biggest questions in archaeology and this dissertation aims to discuss, demonstrate and propose some ways in which we may increase the visibility of the indigenous foragers.

The intention of this dissertation is to approach the problem from a holistic standpoint, initially examining aspects of Hunter-gatherer anthropology to highlight complexities and variables reasonably analogous to the Paris basin Neolithic, in order to gain a better perspective beyond the traditional views which form the basis of so many hypotheses.

An additional aim is to make explicit the salient feature of the lithic industries of the cultures extant around the time of the transition. This is because the lithic record is the only fully diagnostic remnant of the Mesolithic we have access to, and it would seem that direct comparison and cross reference with the lithic traditions of the Neolithic societies is the only in which to identify material correlates of continuity of indigenous identity.

Christopher Thompson, A cognitive approach towards the origins of religion

Recent advances in cognitive science have inspired much productive research into the origins of language, yet the question of the origins of religion has been relatively ignored. This dissertation seeks to rectify that anomaly, employing an explicitly cognitive approach in an attempt to understand the origins of religion.

The cognitive basis for religion is examined, and a series of criteria are put forward which we might attempt to observe in the archaeological record as evidence of man’s capacity for religion. Using these criteria, the dissertation goes on to examine the various types of evidence, anatomical and cultural, which might give us an insight into the cognitive life of early man. Next, the evolutionary basis for the origins of religion is examined in the hope that this might provide some clues as to the manner in which it arose.

At the heart of the dissertation is a synthesis: between recent theories concerning the relationship between religion and cognition, and growing archaeological evidence and methods of interpretation concerning the growth of this cognition.

The aim is to develop a theory of when, how, and ultimately why humans developed a religious instinct.

Tamsin Wilkinson, Worked Bone in the IA of the Western Isles with specific reference to developments in the Bhaltos peninsula, Isle of Lewis

The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the material culture of the Western Isles based on the excavations of Loch na Berie Broch, Dun Bharabhat and Cnip wheelhouse. As so little excavation has been carried out in this area in comparison to the Northern Isles, the evidence from the Western Isles will be reviewed independently to examine the possibility of different chronologies and artefacts types present in the two areas. Comparisons will be drawn between the Northern and Western Isles in order to determine whether they have a common developmental history, and a framework will be established in order to assess the evidence from the Western Isles in their own right as opposed to being an extension of the Northern evidence. The relationship of worked bone assemblages to unworked faunal assemblages in the Bhaltos peninsula will also briefly be discussed.

Leomie Willoughby-Ellis, The Maritime Interaction Network of Middle Asia during the Middle to Late Bronze Age

This dissertation investigates the archaeological evidence for a network of maritime exchanges between the Indus and Mesopotamia, via the Persian Gulf. The major culture groups investigated are the Mesopotamians, Dilman now Bahrain, Megan on both sides of the Straits of Hormuz and the Harappans of India. Using two models proposed by Frederick Hiebert of the University of Pennsylvania, the evidence is sorted by geography and levels of interaction. The Sinclair model of port, hinterland, foreland and maritime space constructs a geographic framework for interacting cultures and investigates their effects upon one another through trade. The Sheratt model gives a progressive model of levels of interaction over time. Both models aid in sorting the diverse evidence of this early period and lend terminology for the exchange. The site of Lothal, India, is sued to highlight aspects of this exchange including the procurement system of the Indus and international relationships.

Postgraduate thesis abstracts

Ph.D.

Joanne T. Clarke

Regional Variation in the Ceramics of Neolithic Cyprus: Implications for the Socio-Economic and Cultural Dynamics of a Prehistoric Island Society

The Ceramic Neolithic (SCU) period in Cyprus is unusual because of the island-wide uniformity observable in the material culture remains. It is only in the ceramic repertoire that regional variation can be detected, and this is most clearly evident in the surface decoration on the painted pottery.

Regional variation is common in prehistoric societies, where external elements can act upon social and economic structures and thereby contribute to diversity. In Cyprus, where there were no external influences, factors that contributed to diversity were internally circumscribed.

The predominant forces acting upon SCU Cyprus were economic. Subsistence strategies governed the ways in which early populations conducted their daily lives and interacted with others. The undertaking of seasonally related subsistence tasks would have directed the types of interaction that occurred between village groups and regions.

Looking specifically at the material culture of the SCU phase, and in particular the distribution of variation in the pottery, the socio-economic processes that contributed to regional diversity are defined. Ceramic variation in SCU Cyprus is predominantly stylistic, and style can appear in many guises. Moreover, it is stylistic variation that is the measurable extant element of social interaction.

This thesis argues that economic factors directed the types of social interactive processes that occurred during the SCU phase, and that this, in turn, is reflected as stylistic variation in the ceramics. Measuring variety against the backdrop of economic and subsistence models aids in the identification of the types of relationships which existed.

 

Muge Sevketoglu

Archaeological Field Survey of the Neolithic and Chalcolithic Settlement Sites in Kyrenia District, North Cyprus: systematic surface collection and the interpretation of artefact scatters

For nearly twenty four years, the archaeology of northern Cyprus has not been investigated as thoroughly as that in the southern part of the island. All foreign projects, which are responsible for the substantial majority of the archaeological work in Cyprus, are active in the south. This has created a major imbalance in our knowledge of the prehistory of the island. The new discoveries in the south have advanced our knowledge of the prehistoric period in Cyprus in many ways, but at the same time the lack of archaeological work in the north makes these potentially biased, and theoretical approaches cannot be confirmed without knowledge of the whole island. This thesis is an attempt to narrow this gap by applying a survey method that has not been applied on such a large scale in Cyprus before, with new interpretative aims and methods. The period of interest is from the Aceramic Neolithic to the end of the Chalcolithic, approximately 7,500 - 2,800 BC.

The survey was carried out in Kyrenia district, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, over two field seasons. A total of twenty-eight sites was selected according to their surface richness from Stanley Price's gazetteer of sites published in 1979. Out of these sites twenty-two had surface finds, three had no surface finds and three were not found. In addition to these sites two previously unknown sites were discovered and surveyed. The method of survey was two-fold. The first was intensive total surface collection using a five metre grid, with results fed into a mapping programme to create scatter maps showing artefact distribution. The second was extensive area survey, which involved systematic field walking accompanied by surface collection.

This thesis comprises an overview of previous surveys in Cyprus, explanation of methodologies used for the current survey, discussion of the survey results, and comparisons with results from excavations and other surveys. Questions regarding the interpretation of surface scatters, the shifting and drifting of settlements, and the cultural homogeneity of Cyprus during the period of interest are also addressed.

M.Phil.

Georgia Mortzou

Cultural Adaptations in the Balkans 12000-6000 BP

The Mesolithic-Neolithic transition is a convenient case-study for the evaluation of the current status of prehistoric research in the Balkans after more than a century of scientific study. The subject has been structured alongside two axes: the presentation of the data available and relevant to the transition per se, and the subsequent theoretical discussion of the interpretation of this evidence in the context of the different explanatory models of the nature of the cultural change evident in the material record. Accordingly, the first part of the study presents the potential and the deficiencies of the archaeological material and, as implied by the varied and changing research traditions, reviews the various methodological approaches applied in the recovery and recording of the relevant information. In the second part, these approaches are examined in the context of their theoretical framework, which necessitated, dictated or rejected their employment, according to specific historical, social and epistemological requirements. The dissertation results in the exposure of a number of inadequacies, intellectual gaps and empirical deficiencies that have shaped the problem of the interpretation of the cultural change, as well as defining the character of the research tradition in the area in general.

The originality of the study lies in its treatment of a broad geographical region with reference to a particular problem, and in its holistic evaluation of the theoretical foundations of the research tradition, as these have been variously developed since the initial recognition of the intellectual problem of explaining the transition. The critical description of the progress in the field results in the clear definition of the research goals (or the lack of them) as these have been defined up to date, and allows for new priorities to be discussed by shifting the focus of the interpretational problem to the inadequacy of the conceptual perception of the transition, rather than the fragmentary nature of its evidence. Having traced the space available for new approaches, the study concludes with recommendations for future research.

 

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Centre for Field Archaeology

 

As in previous years it has been a busy twelve months for research with a number of projects previously initiated coming to the full construction phase. Once again, most of our work was conducted in Scotland, but conforming to past patterns, we continued to undertake some work in UK and Jordan. In terms of personnel there have been a number of major changes. With the departure of Bill Finlayson, who has moved to the position of Director of the British School of Archaeology, in Amman, Jordan, there has been a restructuring of management responsiblities. CFA’s management is now undertaken by a team consisting of Derek Alexander, Ciara Clarke and headed by Andrew Dunwell. Our Administrative Assistant, Helen Skinner, moved to another post within the University and was replaced by Jill Strobridge who previously worked for the English Literature Department. In addition, Catherine McGill left CFA to continue her Post-graduate research full-time.

CFA's contracts with external agencies and companies have been negotiated via Edinburgh Research and Innovation.

Other individuals have made a substantial contribution to the Centre's research during 1999 on project-specific work, or in helping to staff the Field School, described in more detail below:

Stuart Campbell, Bill Carruthers, Martin Carruthers, Gordon Cherrington, Mike Church, Lindsey Collier, Laura Crawford, Anne Crone, Colin Davis, Tom Eglington, Catherine Flitcroft, Sian Keith, Richard Kynoch, Melanie Johnson, Alex Hale, Karen Hardy, Candy Hatherly, Andy Heald, Tim Holden, Liam McKinstry, Ann McSween, Alan Matthews, Calum Mitchell, Ishbell Ogilvie, Ruth Pelling, Jean Riddell, Eleanor Rafferty, Laura Sinfield, Adrian Tams, Marcia Taylor, Bill Tulloch, Graeme Warren, Clive Warsop, Caroline Wickham-Jones, John Woodhead

Project Work

A large number of projects were conducted over the course of the year. Many of these comprised the usual categories of desk-based assessments, the provision of advice to developers, and small scale surveys, trial trenching exercises and watching briefs. It has been a busy year for follow up work on Projects initiated in previous years. Windfarms being constructed on Beinn Ghlas near Oban and Dunlaw, in the Moorfoots, Scottish Borders, have both required archaeological watching briefs to ensure that damage to the cultural heritage is minimised or avoided. In both cases areas of primarily of blanket bog were affected. A watching brief in advance of waterpipe laying at Hoprig, East Lothian, located the remains of Bronze Age short cist grave while another undertaken in advance of road improvements at Dunbar located three long cists, probably of early historic in date. The graves at Hoprig attracted the attention of the BBC2 programme "Meet the Ancestors" and work in progress was filmed.

The most spectacular and unexpected discovery of the year was made during a watching brief for service trenches to a retail development on the outskirts of Inverness. Here close archaeological supervision of topsoil stripping uncovered the remains of a burnt mound and its associated water trough. The debate as to the function of burnt mounds is a long running one: are they the remains of cooking sites (where heated stones were placed in troughs of water) or did they function as prehistoric saunas? The unusual feature of the site at Inverness was that the trough, which is normally made of stone, had been constructed of alder planks. It is hoped that analyses and post-excavation work on these remains and the fill of the trough will further our understanding of these enigmatic sites.

This year has certainly seen much activity in the Highlands, especially around Inverness, which is now reputedly one of the fastest growing small towns in Britain. As well as the more distant past, development work has had an impact on more recent, but also significant industrial remains: and in May CFA recorded the impressive remains of the Highland Railway locomotive depot, including the engine shed and turning platform. So distinctive is the latter structure that the planning department is hoping to have it preserved in situ and partially incorporated into the landscaping of the new development.

Environmental Assessments continue to form a major part of the Centre’s core work with 1999 including work on a golf course beside Loch Lomond, the Raasay ferry terminal, overhead powerlines close to East Kilbride, an opencast coalmine in Ayrshire and a landfill site in the North-East. All these projects were conducted to identify potential deletrious impacts on the Cultural Heritage and were undertaken in conjunction with a number of planning consultancies.

1999 represented the third year of the Department of Archaeology’s Angus and South Aberdeenshire Field School which is substantially co-ordinated and staffed by CFA (see section 8). However, Angus has featured prominently in our developer funded work. Angus Council employed CFA to undertake excavation work in advance of a business park development on the outskirts of Brechin (adjacent to the site of Pictavia) and to commence follow up excavation work along the line of the A92 Dundee to Arbroath road in avance of its upgrading. In addition, CFA carried out small scale excavation work in advance of road widening at Dunlappie Bridge near Edzell in the same county. The two larger developments have focused particularly on cropmarks of prehistoric structures which complement and expand the range of sites being investigated by the Field School: work will continue on both projects into 2000.

The excavation work at Brechin uncovered a number of very large Neolithic pits and three diminutive souterrains. Just how these miniature underground storage passages functioned is unclear. Generally larger examples dating to the late Iron Age are thought to have been used for storage of agricultural produce. At Cowiehall, Stirling, the site of a probable souterrain was investigated by CFA prior to the proposed extension of a gravel quarry. This revealed a 2.3m wide, 18m long curving passage which had been cut into the natural sand to a depth of 1.2m. Finds from the fill of the passage included a rim of Roman Samian and a possible ring-headed pin: and these suggest a 1^st-2^nd century AD date. Historic Scotland also commissioned a geophysical survey of another souterrain at Braehead, Aberdeenshire, prior to re-fencing and re-scheduling of that site.

Geophysical survey combined with trial trenching was also deployed at Wester Shirva in order to locate the precise line of the Antonine Wall and ditch in advance of the proposed Kelvin Valley Sewer pipeline. The results confirmed that the Frontier Line runs further to the south, at this point, than was previously thought. Resistivity profiling was undertaken in advance of trial trenching of the earthworks on the Mull of Galloway, where cattle trample has been proving a major cause of erosion.

Not all evaluations and watching briefs locate significant archaeological deposits and this was certainly the case along the line of the Blackness to Grangemouth Natural gas pipeline constructed for BP Chemicals Ltd. In this case, the impacts on recognisable archaeological heritage were minimal. For a full list of the work described above and other projects conducted in 1999 see the list of CFA Technical Reports: outline statements will in due course appear in Discovery and Excavation in Scotland.

In addition to the developer funded work, CFA has also continued to make inputs into research projects as far as resources allow. This summer saw the first season of fieldwork on the Scotland’s First Settlers Project which was directed by Bill Finlayson, Karen Hardy, and Caroline Wickham-Jones (all Fellows within the Department), and which aims to examine the evidence for Mesolithic occupation of the western seaboard of Scotland particularly focusing on the islands and mainland coast defining the littoral sound to the east of Skye. In addition, CFA staff once again contributed to the Dana-Faynan-Ghuwayr Early Prehistory Project in Jordan which is co-directed by Bill Finlayson and is run jointly with Reading University, and a member of CFA also undertook survey work in a voluntary capacity for the Gaza Archaeological Research Project. A large number of CFA staff were also involved in a voluntary project on the summit of Traprain Law, one of the best known large enclosed sites of later prehistoric date in Scotland. This project was co-directed by Andy Dunwell, CFA’s new manager.

In addition to the fieldwork CFA has continued to undertake post-excavation work on sites, on both our own projects and ones undertaken by external individuals. For example work is progressing on the material from the Pictish/Norse settlement at Bosta, Lewis, while a Data Structure Report has been produced for the long-running excavations at Jezreel, Israel, which were co-directed by John Woodhead.

Finally CFA staff have been authors and co-authors of around 12 major publications in academic journals this year and many more have recently been submitted.

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Lemba Archaeological Research Centre, Cyprus

LARC. Lemba 8620, Paphos District, Cyprus

Manager: Dr Paul Croft, Honorary Research Fellow, Department of Archaeology

Assistant manager: Dr Diane Bolger, Honorary Research Fellow, Department of Archaeology

 

The LARC serves as a Departmental base for individual and team field projects, as well as a focus for the research activities of fieldworkers from other institutions. University projects are mainly concerned with training in practical work suited to Mediterranean conditions and locally available facilities. Currently they comprise survey, excavation, ethnoarchaeology, artifact and materials studies, site management and experimental archaeology. Fieldwork required for undergraduate dissertations are a regular feature of research at the LARC. Other users are post-excavation and research teams. Their activities, listed below, demonstrate the international role of this research facility.

The LARC field centre at Lemba.

Field Schools

Field schools take place during vacations, in line with policies to combine research with education. They are advertised in U.K. university archaeology departments and on the web site 'Aegeanet'. This year there were three Field Schools.

• Excavation at the Tombs of the Kings in Paphos (3 weeks, March-April)
• Excavation at the Tombs of the Kings in Paphos (3 weeks, June)
• West Cyprus Survey (5 weeks, August-September). See separate report

Post-Excavation

The LARC was used for post-excavation research by the following projects:

• Tell Lachish (Israel)
• Tell esh Shuna North
• Ghwair 1 (Jordan)
• Jerablus Tahtani (Syria)
• Kissonerga-Mylouthkia (Cyprus)

Prof. David Ussishkin (Tel Aviv University) visited to discuss progress on the Tell Lachish material.

Other research

Two postgraduates, Katleen Deckers and Sorina Spanou, used the Centre as a base for their researches during the summer.

Dr. Paul Croft continued preparation of skeletal material for osteological reference collection for the University of Cyprus.

The centre also serves as a base for the maintenance of the Lemba Experimental Village and the information repository for the creation of a visitor centre at Kissonerga. The publication by the Bank of Cyprus of the Guide to these two sites has considerably enhanced public awareness of the varied heritage of Cyprus.

 

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Scottish Trust for Underwater Archaeology

 

Chairman: Dr. T. Nicholas Dixon,

Managing Director of the Scottish Crannog Centre: Barrie Andrian

The Scottish Crannog Centre.

The Centre is continuing to attract substantial numbers of visitors each year and this should rise when the new display centre, that is currently under construction, is completed. It is due to open on April 1^st 2000.

Crannog Structure.

The crannog has withstood the effects of thousands of visitors and severe weather conditions with little evidence of damage or wear and tear. The storms around December 98 and January 99 were particularly harsh with winds up to 120 mph. Unfortunately, the moorings of modern pontoons at the adjacent watersport centre were not so effective as the crannog and broke with the result that the pontoons drifted into the crannog and, over a period of hours during the night, smashed against the piles of the structure. This happened on two different occasions and resulted in more than 25 piles being broken or damaged from the impact.

The finished crannog from the shore of Loch Tay.

It says a great deal for the overall strength of the structure that the damage was not more severe. There are a number of positive lessons to be learned from the situation. In the past it is almost certain that there was nothing that would have had the same effect as half-ton, steel-edged pontoons smashing against crannogs so they were certainly strong enough to withstand storms and natural accidents. While it was not the ideal reason for having to replace and double-up piles in the structure the lessons learned during the repairs show the relative ease of the task

One of the most interesting points is the emphasis on having good, ready supplies of suitable timbers to use for repairs. This reinforces the discovery during the original building that the crannog builders were almost certainly managing their woodlands to ensure a good, constant supply of trees.

Recording and monitoring the crannog.

During the year, projects were carried out by Department students Graeme Cavers, Andrew Nelson and Peter Gibbs to record and monitor the crannog structure, above and below water. Accurate archaeological plans were made of elements of the walkway and of the pile distribution underwater. The piles were also examined and recorded underwater for evidence of the sorts of fungae and algae that are affecting them.

The intention is to develop and expand these projects to enhance our understanding of timber durability and degradation factors. As routine maintenance and emergency repairs are carried out, we understanding more about the specific properties of selected types of timber and how they react to the environment in which they are placed.

Experimental Archaeology.

Kirsten Thompson from the Department carried out experiments to see how bracken could have been preserved in the state that it was discovered at Oakbank Crannog. While the results were inconclusive they are a starting point for more work on the degradation processes affecting a range of plant remains on the site. Other experimental archaeology projects included; working with fibres, like willow bast, to produce ropes and nets; working with nettle fibres to make rope and thread for spinning; separating out flax, and spinning. A number of students from Glasgow University were also involved in the experimental projects.

The crannog with "ancient" inhabitants.

Aspects of food gathering and preparation were also considered. Tea was made from fresh nettle leaves which were also dried and crushed to be stored for later use. Syrup was made from elderberries and honey, and elderflowers were steeped in water with honey added to make a refreshing drink. Spelt wheat flour was ground on a saddle quern to make flatbread and was mixed with other native ingredients like butter, herbs and hazelnuts for different tastes. Also in the culinary theme, a cookery/activity book was launched for families to promote awareness of seasonality, as exploited by crannog people in past. Crannog Cooking with Kids was edited by Barrie Andrian and illustrated by Claire Hewitt and is available from the STUA.

 

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Archaeology Field School: - Angus and South Aberdeenshire

The First Year Angus and South Aberdeenshire Field School continued the established pattern of fieldwork of the previous three years. This comprised a two week introduction to the techniques of archaeological field survey and environmental survey undertaken during the Easter vacation and four weeks of archaeological excavation and palaeo-environmental survey and test-pitting in September. All of this fieldwork provided additional material within the local and regional contexts of the Field School project as a whole, as outlined in the recently published research design on the aims of the project (Finlayson, Coles, Dunwell & Ralston ‘The Angus and South Aberdeenshire Field School of the Department of Archaeology, University of Edinburgh - research design’, Tayside and Fife Archaeological Journal, 5 (1999): 28-35.). This year approximately 35 students attended the Field School.

EASTER SURVEY

Survey being carried out by Edinburgh students on Finavon hillfort.

The 1999 Easter Field School surveys saw a return to sites very much a part of the Departmental tradition with detailed contour and erosion surveys being undertaken at the vitrified fort of Finavon, Tannadice (previously excavated by Abercromby Professor Gordon Childe) and a detailed contour survey of Capo long barrow, Edzell (first identified by Abercromby Professor Stuart Piggott and adjacent to the excavated long barrow at Dalladies).

Finavon hillfort: Finavon Hill has attracted a great deal of archaeological interest from antiquarians and archaeologists over the years especially since it displayed traces of vitrified rock. It was planned 100 years ago by David Christison and was subject to extensive excavations undertaken by Prof. Gordon Childe between 1933-5. That the fort had been burnt was clearly attested not only by the vitrified material but also by the charred timbers located during the excavation. The fort could also be readily compared to other oblong forts and was, therefore, targeted for scientific dating techniques including radiocarbon dating, thermoluminesence and archaeomagnetic dating.

A survey plan of the fort was undertaken using a variety of techniques. The fort is c. 155m long by c.55m wide. There is a T-shaped outwork at the eastern end. As described by Childe the southern side of the fort sits back at least 20m from the cliff edge. In addition at the western end it extends to incorporate a natural depression. In both cases the apparent disregard for the natural topography as a line for the ramparts surely indicates that the practical need for a defensive position was not the a priori reason behind the construction of the fort. Indeed the need to obtain an oblong shape, despite the topographic variations, suggests that this may have been as much an issue in the minds of the builders. It is also possible that the inclusion of the natural hollow at the western end may have been of some significance, perhaps related in use to the well at the eastern end.

The fort and its immediate surroundings have been subject to a great deal of quarrying which has had a profound effect on the nature of the remains and can be very confusing when visiting the site. Three main areas of quarrying can be identified on the hill: the entire southern side of the southern rampart; a small section into the exterior off the northern rampart; and an extensive set along the north-eastern face of the hill outside the fort.

Although in general the state of preservation of the features can be described as stable there are a number of small areas of active erosion. The areas effected by the quarrying and the excavations are the most unstable and most prone to erosion. Particularly noticeable is the loose stone work in what was Childe’s trench D or the eastern end of the main quarry in along the southern rampart. Animal activity on the site appears to be relatively restricted although there are a large number of mole hills on the southern terrace.

Capo Long Barrow: Capo Neolithic long barrow is situated in a clearing near the southern boundary of Capo Plantation and is located c. 0.5km north of the River North Esk. Field survey of the monument and its immediate environs was conducted and recorded that the barrow sat on a natural terrace, with a low mound (possibly artificial to the east. The entire monument was enclosed by a trapezoidal enclosure of banks and ditches which is likely to be of relatively recent date.

The survey of Capo long barrow in progress.

The long barrow is trapezoidal and wedged-shaped, with its broader and higher end located to the east. The mound measures 87m in length by 31.5m at its eastern end, tapering to 16m wide at the west. The summit of the barrow is generally flat, comprising a plateau c. 4-7.5m wide, which gently slopes downwards from east to west. The eastern end of the barrow stands some c. 2.5m above the present ground level to the north and over 4.5m above the present ground level to the south and at the base of the terrace. The western end of the barrow stands c. 1.6m above the present ground level to the north, and 3.8m to the south, at the base of the terrace. The base of the terrace to the west of the mound is 2.4m beneath its western summit.

The cover of the mound is predominantly grass, moss and bracken, forest debris and rosebay willow-herb. Tree stumps are present every few metres along the entire length and sides of the mound. Rabbit burrows and uprooted tree-holes are present all over the mound.

A localised area of deflation, measuring c. 8m (east-west) by 5m (north-south) is present upon the eastern summit of the mound. The cause of this deflation, however, does not appear to be as a result of external forces such as forest traffic and may represent the subsidence of some internal structure present within the mound, perhaps a mortuary structure similar to that identified at Dalladies. No external stones or structural components are visible within the mound material. There are no surface indications of external ditches running parallel to the barrow as evidenced at Dalladies.

A low mound exists immediately to the east of the long barrow, situated on the edge of the same terrace. The long barrow and low mound are surrounded by a series of rectilinear banks and ditches which form a trapezoidal enclosure, with continuations of banks projecting from the north-eastern, south-eastern and south-western corners.

The enclosure’s main axis lies parallel with that of the long barrow and measures c. 180m by 82.5m. Where it survives intact the profile of the bank is generally consistent, comprising a flat-topped bank c. 1.6m wide on its summit with a vertical external face and steeply sloping internal face. The bank is flanked by an external ditch on all sides with the exception of the western side. The profile of the ditch is largely consistent throughout its circuit comprising a steep outer edge and a generally flat base. There is no suggestion that these banks and ditches represent a prehistoric enclosure around the barrow.

Part of a broken plano-convex flint knife was found on the eroded surface of the southern bank by one of the first Year students during survey.

Barnsdale Castle: In addition to the survey work at Capo and Finavon, a brief survey was carried out, under the supervision of Dr Nick Dixon, of the remains of a possible castle or crannog site in Rescobie Loch. However, apart from the documentary evidence relating to the site there was nothing to suggest the site was artificial.

Palaeoenvironmental Survey: The southern flank of the Hill of Rowan in Glen Esk was surveyed as part of the Angus and South Aberdeenshire Field School during Easter 1999. The survey comprised geomorphic mapping followed by limited coring and test pitting. A series of Devensian, Late Glacial and Holocene features were identified, including a series of infilled hollows created within an area of hummocky moraine and a suite of terraces adjacent to the river North Esk. The terraces were test pitted for dating evidence and though no direct dating was evident, the character of the deposits suggested a Late Glacial / early Holocene date for their formation. Every hollow within the hummocky moraine was investigated with a large hollow downslope of the prehistoric fieldsystems revealing a 2.5 m. deep sequence of peat and organic silts which contains a detailed palaeoenvironmental record for at least the second half of the Holocene. Numerous inwash bands seem to correlate to pedologic instability triggered by prehistoric activity. A core has been taken with a view to constructing a palaeoenvironmental record for the upper reaches of the North Esk valley.

SUMMER EXCAVATION

View of the excavation of the Hawkhill roundhouse.

The summer excavation season saw excavations undertaken on three sites which offered the students an excellent introduction into the a wide range of archaeological fieldwork techniques and the diversity of the archaeological record. In addition, two geophysical surveys were undertaken as part of undergraduate dissertations of students from the Department of Archaeology and the Department of Geophysics. These comprised a geophysical resistivity and magnetometry survey of the surrounding cropmarks and resistivity profiling of Capo Long Barrow.

Hawkhill, Lunan

Trial excavation and geophysical survey were undertaken on two cropmark sites at Hawkhill Farm, Lunan. Both sites are recorded by the NMRS (refs: NO65SE 25 and 38) and were not scheduled. These sites were chosen as these unscheduled cropmark images were particularly indistinct compared to those scheduled sites south of the Lunan River e.g. Redcastle and Newbarns, examined in previous field schools. Trial excavation would enable the cropmark images and geophysical results to be compared to the results on the ground.

Hawkhill Area 1; roundhouse, souterrain and working platform: NO65SE 25: Three trenches were excavated across a variety of cropmark features and geophysical anomalies, and confirmed many of these to represent either geological or modern anthropogenic features (ice-wedges, field-drains). A trench (900m²) was excavated across a possible roundhouse and souterrain. Both these structures were confirmed by excavation, and found to have a complex plans. A third structure was also revealed.

The roundhouse (which was only partially examined) was oval in plan. It measured at least 12m by 10m externally with walls c. 1m thick, and was partially subterranean. Situated on the edge of a terrace, the interior of this building had been cut into the slope, with walls forming revetments around three-quarters of its internal circuit. These walls were of drystone construction, built of large boulders and stood up to 5 courses high. They projected beyond the subsoil level and into the ploughsoil: damage from plough action was evident. Four partially preserved linear features were located in a radial formation running outwards from the wall-line and appear to represent radial internal partitions between the inner stone wall and the outer wall. No evidence, however, for an outer wall was located and this proposed plan must remain tentative. A well-laid spread of paving, incorporating the upper half of a rotary quern, was present within the examined south-western interior of the building. Two large post-holes were located abutting the paving where the revetting wall was absent. The basal foundations for the southern side of a possible stone-built porch-like projection were located to the south-east of the structure, perhaps indicating the entrance into the structure.

A second structure, best described as a revetted platform, was located a few metres from the roundhouse. This structure was D-shaped and was cut into the slope of the hill and revetted by a wall of massive boulders. The front edge of the structure was formed by a double line of orthostats. A cobble infill laid between the revettment wall and othostats formed a rough base to the structure. A hearth and stone-defined pit were present within this cobble spread. The pit was filled with redeposited ash. An arc of large stake-holes, positioned around the rear of the structure, indicated the position of a timber super-structure. Finds comprising slag and a hearth-bottom were recovered from the deposits immediately sealing this structure and may indicate a metal-working function for it.

Approximately one third (5.5m) of a souterrain lay within the trench. This is situated on the break of slope and the aerial photographic evidence indicated it to be banana-shaped and to run from a second massive roundhouse located upslope. The souterrain was revealed to be stone lined, set within a cut c. 3.6m wide which tapered to 1m wide at its southermost end. This formed a stone-lined passage 1.2-2.4m wide. The souterrain was c. 1.5m deep (max) and had been deliberately backfilled to a depth of c. 0.7m deep. A broken rotary quern and saddle quern fragment were found within the backfill material. The remaining fill upper fill comprised topsoil-derived material.

Excavation of a cropmark feature at Newbarns.

Other features located within this trench included miscellaneous severely truncated pits, post-holes and a recent sheep burial.

The geophysical survey results have been confirmed by excavation and show that both resistivity and magnetometry (especially the latter) work extremely well in these geological conditions of sands and gravels.

Hawkhill Area 2; ditched enclosure: Four trenches were excavated across the summit and sides of a prominent knoll largely comprising bedrock outcrop. The northern and north-western trenches revealed two ditches enclosing the knoll at this position; the fills of these comprised topsoil derived material indicating deliberate backfilling. A single ditch was revealed in each of the south-western and southern trenches. The ditch within the south-western trench appeared to either terminate within the trench or was of segmented construction and unfinished. No features were present within the interior of the enclosure(s). The fractured bedrock surface was evidently being actively removed through ploughing. This will have removed all trace of any internal features. Finds comprising a single sherd of prehistoric pottery and a few worked lithics were recovered, but the lack of stratified artefacts means a sequence and date for the enclosures cannot be proposed.

Newbarns, near Inverkeilor: The second season of a programme of trial trenching was carried out to the west of Newbarns Farm. The field is rich in cropmarks of varying forms, some of which are scheduled. Eleven trenches were excavated: three within the scheduled area and eight outside it. Of this total, only two trenches were devoid of archaeological features.

The excavated features comprised pits, linear ditches, natural ice wedges, a truncated ring-ditch house, a sub-rectangular enclosure (possibly a Dark Age timber hall) and a possible square barrow. No features produced any artefactual dating evidence, and provisional dates can only be applied to three feature groups (the ring-ditch house, timber hall and square barrow-type feature) on the basis of their morphology. The results supported the conclusions from the previous year’s work at Newbarns that the clarity of cropmarks is the result of a combination of topography, ploughsoil depth, subsoil, feature depth, size and nature of fill, with the principal deciding factor being geomorphological considerations. There was considerable evidence across the site for plough scoring of subsoil and features, suggesting that active truncation is occurring.

Nathro and Calletar Burns Palaeoenvironmental and Archaeological Survey: In addition to the excavation work further environemtnal work was conducted in the Nathro and Calletar valleys.

During Septemeber 1999, a series of alluvial terraces previously identified within the Nathro and Calleter valleys (see DES 1997, 14-15) were surveyed by EDM to create a close interval Data Terrain Model. Up to 9 terrace levels were identified of Late Devensian, post-Glacial and Holocene age. Each terrace fragment was test pitted to retrieve dating evidence for the terrace formation and to recover lithic material relating to Mesolithic settlement in an upland zone. Only the highest terrace (Terrace 9) produced material, a fragment of birch within waterlogged inorganic clay that will be submitted for radiocarbon dating. The test pits were dry sieved to retrieve lithic material. The lithic assemblage across the terraces as a whole was very low in concentration with a small amount of crude waste and possible bipolar cores of quartz. No flint was recovered. The material was chronologically undiagnostic and some of the material was clearly redeposited. Two structures were also trial trenched in an attempt to retrieve termini ante quem for the terraces on which they were located. The structure on Terrace 1 (the lowest terrace adjacent to the burn) was built on top of the main body of the terrace with the final overbank deposits of the terrace abutting against the stonework of the structure. The presumed post-Medieval construction of the structure provides a date for the final terrace formation. The other structure investigated on Terrace 5 contained no artefacts or material suitable for dating.

 

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Other Publications, Reviews and CFA Technical Reports

Alexander, Derek

"Upper Tillygarmond (Birse parish) Survey", DES 1998, 6.
"Turin Hill (Aberlemno parish) Hillfort, ring-forts and quarries", DES 1998,11-12.
"Red Castle (Inverkeilor parish) Souterrain and burials", DES 1998,15.
"West Mains (Inverkeilor parish) enclosure and ?souterrain", DES 1998,15.
"Lochnaw Castle, Isle of Lochnaw (Leswalt parish) 14th century tower and later structures", DES 1998, 28.
"Greenock Reservoirs Nos. 1 & 2 (Inverkip parish) 19th century dam sections", DES 1998, 64.
"Wallace Memorial, Elderslie (Paisley parish) Moated site; medieval and post-medieval pottery", DES 1998, 78-9

Burgess, Christopher

(with M. Church & S. Gilmour) "Bereiro and Tigh a’Bheannaich (Uig parish) Surveys", DES 1998, 105
(with M. Johnson & S. Campbell) "Garenin (Uig parish) Blackhouse village", DES 1998, 105-6

Cameron, Kirsty

(with A. Rees) "A92 road improvement: Dundee to Arbroath (Abirlot; Barry; Carnoustie; Dundee, Monifieth, Monikie, Panbride parishes) Evaluation and excavation", DES 1998, 12.
"Dunans Estate (Kilmodan parish) Pre-afforestation survey", DES 1998, 20.
"West Pans Pottery, Musselburgh (Inveresk parish) Evaluation", DES 1998, 33.
"Dellfield, Inshes, Inverness (Inverness and Bona parish) Evaluation", DES 1998, 52.
"Craigrostan, Comer estate (Buchanan parish) Pre-afforestation survey", DES 1998, 93.
Radiocarbon dates for Candlestane, Insch (Aberdeenshire), DES 1998, 125

Church, Michael

(with C. Burgess & S. Gilmour) "Bereiro and Tigh a’Bheannaich (Uig parish) Surveys", DES 1998, 105
(with G. M. Coles, D. W. Harding & R. Inglis) "Calanais Farm (Uig parish) Field walls and buried soil", DES 1998, 105
(with S. Gilmour & C. Flitcroft) "Gob Eirer (Uig parish) Promontory fort", DES 1998, 106
(with S. Gilmour) "Guinerso (Uig parish) Relict landscape", DES 1998, 106

Clarke, Ciara

"North Ballachullish Moss (Kilmallie parish) Radar survey", DES 1998, 54-5.
Radiocarbon dates for Rough Castle North (Falkirk) and Doon’s Law, Whitsome (Scottish Borders), DES 1998, 126, 127

Coles, Geraint

(with M. Church, D. W. Harding & R. Inglis) "Calanais Farm (Uig parish) Field walls and buried soil", DES 1998, 105

Cressey, Michael

"Blairenbathie, near Kelty (Beath Parish) Watching brief", DES 1998, 40.
(with N. Burt) "St Ninians (Beath Parish) Standing building survey", DES 1998, 40.
(with J. Hamilton) "St Ninians (Beath Parish) Standing building recording", DES 1998, 40.
(with B. Finlayson & J. Hamilton) "Seafield West, near Inverness (Inverness and Bona parish). Bronze Age cemetery and Iron Age settlement", DES 1998, 52-4.
Radiocarbon dates for Newby Cottages, Annan (Scottish Borders), DES 1998, 127

Dixon, T. Nicholas

(with F. Baker) Loch Lomond Islands Survey (Luss parish) Crannogs", DES 1998, 23.
(with F. Baker) Loch Lomond Islands Survey (Buchanan parish) Crannogs", DES 1998, 93.
(with F. Baker) Loch Lomond Islands Survey (Bonhill parish) Crannogs", DES 1998, 96.

Dunwell, Andrew

"Auchmannoch (Sorn parish) Archaeology survey", DES 1998, 31.
"Lundavra to Kinlochleven, Lochaber (Kilmallie parish) Archaeology survey", DES 1998, 54.
"Bohenie, Glen Roy, Lochaber (Kilmonivaig parish) Pre-afforestation survey", DES 1998, 55.
(with R. Strachan) Radiocarbon dates for Brown Caterthun (Angus), DES 1998, 125
Radiocarbon dates for Smeaton Roman Camp, DES 1998, 127

Finlayson, Bill

(with K. Hardy, S. Birch, C. Wickham-Jones, & M. Wildgoose) "Crowlin Islands, Eilan Mor (Applecross parish) Rock shelter; shell midden", DES 1998, 46.
(with M. Cressey & J. Hamilton) "Seafield West, near Inverness (Inverness and Bona parish). Bronze Age cemetery and Iron Age settlement", DES 1998, 52-4.

Flitcroft, Catherine

(with M. Church & S. Gilmour) "Gob Eirer (Uig parish) Promontory fort", DES 1998, 106

Gilmour, Simon

(with C. Burgess & M. Church) "Bereiro and Tigh a’Bheannaich (Uig parish) Surveys", DES 1998, 105
(with M. Church & C. Flitcroft) "Gob Eirer (Uig parish) Promontory fort", DES 1998, 106
(with M. Church) "Guinerso (Uig parish) Relict landscape", DES 1998, 106

Glendinning, Bruce

"Cairnhall Farm, (Kintore parish) Evaluation", DES 1998, 9.
"Lochburn Drive, (Kintore parish) Watching Briefs", DES 1998, 9.
"An Suidhe Kintyre (Inveraray; Kilchrenan; Dalvich parishes) Desk-based assessment", DES 1998, 18.
"Cruach nan Gabhar, Kintyre (Killean & Kilchenzie; Saddell & Skipness parishes) Desk-based assessment", DES 1998, 19.
"Shirva (Kirkintilloch parish) Geophysical survey and trial excavations", DES 1998, 31-32.
"East Fortune (Athelstaneford parish) Watching brief", DES 1998, 32.
"Kinneil House (Bo’ness and Carriden parish) Geophysical survey and trial excavations", DES 1998, 37.
"Lochlands Roman temporary camps (Falkirk parish) Remedial archaeological works", DES 1998, 37-8.
"Lochore Meadows Country Park (Ballingry Parish) Archaeological evaluation". DES 1998, 40.
(with T. Neighbour) "Holmwood House (Cathcart parish) Victorian kitchen garden", DES 1998, 44.
"Knock of Alves (Alves parish) Excavation", DES 1998, 66.
"Scoutscroft Holiday Centre (Coldingham parish) Geophysical survey", DES 1998, 79.
(with T. Neighbour, M. Higgins, A. Vickery) "Traigh Bostadh (Uig parish) Geophysical survey and test-pitting", DES 1998, 107.

Hale, Alex

Radiocarbon dates for Dumbuck crannog (Glasgow City), DES 1998, 126

Hamilton, Jamie

"Bellmuir Quarry, (Methlick parish) Watching brief and archaeological evaluation", DES 1998, 9.
"Mains of Edzell (Edzell parish) excavation", DES 1998, 13-14.
"Kirriemuir Hill, (Kirriemuir parish) Archaeological evaluation and watching brief", DES 1998, 16.
"Skares Road opencast coal site (Old Cumnock parish) Archaeological survey", DES 1998, 31.
"St. Michael’s Coach House, Inveresk (Inveresk parish) Roman fort", DES 1998, 33.
"Rough Castle (Falkirk parish), Evaluation excavation", DES 1998, 38.
(with M. Cressey) "St Ninians (Beath Parish) Standing building recording", DES 1998, 40.
"Pitreavie Castle Estate (Dunfermline parish) Field survey and trial excavation", DES 1998, 42".
(with M. Cressey & B. Finlayson) "Seafield West, near Inverness (Inverness and Bona parish). Bronze Age cemetery and Iron Age settlement", DES 1998, 52-4.
"11-15 Arthur Street, Ayr (Ayr parish) Urban evaluation", DES 1998, 86.
"192-194 High Street, Ayr (Ayr parish) Archaeological evaluation", DES 1998, 86.

Hamilton, Naomi

1999: book review of Ancient Anatolia. Fifty years' work by the British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara, ed. R Matthews, published by the British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara. Written for Antiquity, volume 73 (279), 227-8.

Harding, Dennis W.

(with M. Church, G. Coles & R. Inglis) "Calanais Farm (Uig parish) Field walls and buried soil", DES 1998, 105
Johnson, Melanie
(with C. Burgess & S. Campbell) "Garenin (Uig parish) Blackhouse village", DES 1998, 105-6

McGill, Catherine

"Ironshill (Inverkeilor parish) Evaluation", DES 1998, 14.
"Newbarns, near Inverkeilor (Inverkeilor parish) Trial trenching", DES 1998, 15.
"Near Claonaig, Kintyre (Saddell & Skipness parish) Reinstatement of damaged cup-marked stone", DES 1998, 24.
"Mossmoran to Grangemouth pipeline route (Falkirk; Bo’ness and Carriden; Linlithgow parishes) Desk-based assessment, field inspection and trial trenching", DES 1998, 38.
"Dunfermline to Little Raith (Dunfermline; Aberdour; Auchtertool parishes) Rapid survey", DES 1998, 42.
"Bogleys Farm, Kirkcaldy (Kircaldy & Dysart parish) Desk-based assessment and field survey", DES 1998, 42-3.
"A86, Aberarder to Rubha na Magach (Laggan parish) Desk-based assessment, trial trenching and excavation", DES 1998, 55.
"Rosebery Estates (Temple parish) Survey", DES 1998, 65.
"Sannox Quarry, Arran (Kilbride parish) Desk-based assessment and trial trenching", DES 1998, 67.

Midgely, Magdalena

review of J. Thomas "Time, Culture and Identity: an interpretive archaeology", in Cosmos....
review of J. Chapman & P. Dolukhanov (eds.) Landscapes in Flux: Central and Eastern Europe in Antiquity in Landsape History
review of M. Edmonds "Ancestral Geographies of the Neolithic", in British Archaeology No.48 (October 1999), 17

Neighbour, Tim

(with B. Glendinning) "Holmwood House (Cathcart parish) Victorian kitchen garden", DES 1998, 44.
(with L. Sinfield) "Kinneddar House (Drainie parish) Human remains", DES 1998, 66.
"11-15 Arthur Street, Ayr (Ayr parish) Urban evaluation", DES 1998, 85-6.
"Castlehill, Ayr (Ayr parish) Desk-based assessment, resistivity survey and field evaluation", DES 1998, 86.
"Start Up Hill, Lamington (Lamington & Wandel parish) Watching brief", DES 1998, 91.
(with B. Glendinning, M. Higgins, A. Vickery) "Traigh Bostadh (Uig parish) Geophysical survey and test-pitting" DES 1998, 107.
Radiocarbon dates for Galson, Isle of Lewis (Western Isles), DES 1998, 128

Peltenburg, Edgar

Lemba Archaeological Project, Cyprus: Excavations at Kissonerga-Mosphilia, Volume II.1B (2 parts), University of Edinburgh, Department of Archaeology, Occasional Paper 19, 1998. web publication: http://www.arcl.ed.ac.uk/arch/publications/cyprus/kissonerga/index.html

Ralston, Ian

1999: Review of: Ritchie, Graham ed., The Archaeology of Argyll. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press 1997. Scottish Archaeological News, 31, 12.
1999: Comment on Parker Pearson, M., "Food, sex and death: cosmologies in the British Iron Age with particular reference to East Yorkshire", Cambridge Archaeological Journal 9, 65-66.
1999: Review of Kristiansen, K. Europe before history. Cambridge University Press: 1998. British Archaeology 41, 17.
1998: "National Parks: the cultural dimension", in ed. Scottish Wildlife and Countryside Link Protecting Scotland’s Finest Landscapes Session II National Parks – the opportunities, 16th March 1998, 8 -10. Perth: SWCL.
1998: Review of Raftery, B. with Megaw, V. and Rigby, Val eds Sites and Sights of the Iron Age: essays on fieldwork and museum research presented to Ian Mathieson Stead. Oxford: Oxbow Monograph 56, 1995, viii + 180pp. Britannia 29, 1998, 490-1.
1998: Review of Pollard, T. and Morrison, A. eds The Early Prehistory of Scotland. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press for University of Glasgow = Dalrymple Monograph 3, 1996. Antiquaries Journal, 78, 480-1.
1998: Review of Menez, Y Une ferme d’Armorique gauloise: Le Boisanne à Plouër-sur-Rance (Côtes d’Armor) = Document d’Archéologie française 58, 1996. Antiquaries Journal, 78, 486-7.

Rees, Alastair

(with K. Cameron) "A92 road improvement: Dundee to Arbroath (Abirlot; Barry; Carnoustie; Dundee, Monifieth, Monikie, Panbride parishes) Evaluation and excavation", DES 1998, 12.

Sinfield, Laura

(with T. Neighbour) "Kinneddar House (Drainie parish) Human remains", DES 1998, 66.

Storey, Patricia J.

"Some Nineteenth-Century Sunderland Newspaper Proprietors, Publishers and Editors" in Newspapers in the Northeast. The ‘Fourth Estate’ at work in Northumberland & Durham, ed. Peter Isaac, History of the Book Trade in the North, PH78, Jan. 1999, 15-99

Strachan, Richard

"St Fergus to Peterhead gas pipeline (St Fergus; Longside; Peterhead parishes) Watching brief and excavations", DES 1998, 9-10.
"Table Rings Cairn (Whittinghame parish) Emergency excavations and watching brief", DES 1998, 33-34.
"Crail Airfield (Crail parish) Watching brief", DES 1998, 41.
"Kirkton Quarry, Melvich (Farr parish), Archaeological field inspection", DES 1998, 51.
"Boglea & Cameron Farms, Greengairs (New Monkland parish) Desk-based assessment and field survey", DES 1998, 68-9.
"Carpow House walled garden (Abernethy parish) Watching brief", DES 1998, 73.
"Mornington Stables, School Wynd, Abernethy (Abernethy parish) Archaeological evaluation", DES 1998, 73.
"Dalmorton Farm, Straiton (Straiton parish) Pre-afforestation survey", DES 1998, 88-9.
(with A. Dunwell) Radiocarbon dates for Brown Caterthun (Angus), DES 1998, 125

Warren, Graeme

"Upper Tweed Valley Survey (Newlands, Peebles, Stobo parishes)", DES 1998, 82-3
(with J. Symonds & J. Lund) "Airigh Mhuilinn, Milton (South Uist parish) Township survey", DES 1998, 101

Warsop, Clive

Eilean na Comhairle, Loch Finlaggan, Islay (Killarow & Kilmeny parish) Medieval midden", DES 1998, 19

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CFA Technical Reports 1999 (nos 450-510)

Cressey, M. and Hale, A., Wemyss Coastal Initiative: Archaeological Impact Assessment, Report 510. Commissioned by Halcrow Crouch, Glasgow.

Church, M., Nathro and Calletar Burns, Palaeoenvironmental and Archaeological Survey,. University of Edinburgh Department of Archaeology Angus and South Aberdeenshire Field School, Data Structure Report No. 509, November 1999. Grant aided by University of Edinburgh and Historic Scotland.

Church M., Palaeoenvironmental survey, Easter 1999. University of Edinburgh Department of Archaeology Angus and South Aberdeenshire Field School, Data Structure Report No. 508, November 1999. Grant aided by University of Edinburgh and Historic Scotland.

Dixon, N. , Barnsdale Castle Survey, Easter 1999. University of Edinburgh Department of Archaeology Angus and South Aberdeenshire Field School, Data Structure Report No. 507, November 1999. Grant aided by University of Edinburgh and Historic Scotland.

Strachan, R., Hawkhill Farm, Lunan Bay, Angus (Area 1). Archaeological Evaluation of a cropmark roundhouse and souterrain, University of Edinburgh Department of Archaeology Angus and South Aberdeenshire Field School. Data Structure Report No. 506, Grant aided by University of Edinburgh and Historic Scotland, November 1999.

Neighbour T., Grange Farm St Andrews, Fife: Archaeological Evaluation, Data Structure Report No. 505, Commissioned by Headon Developments, November 1999.

Collier L., Capo Long Barrow, Edzel: Resistivity Profiling University of Edinburgh Department of Archaeology Angus and South Aberdeenshire Field School, Data Structure Report No. 504, October 1999. Grant aided by University of Edinburgh and Historic Scotland.

Finlayson B.F, Hardy K., and Wickham-Jones C.R., Scotland’s First Settlers. Data Structure Report No. 503, October 1999Funded by British Academy

Strachan, R. and Mitchell C., Hawkhill Farm, Lunan Bay, Angus (Area 2): Archaeological Evaluation of a cropmark enclosure, University of Edinburgh Department of Archaeology Angus and South Aberdeenshire Field School. Data Structure Report No. 502, Grant aided by University of Edinburgh and Historic Scotland, November 1999.

Rees A.,. Archaeological Desk Based Assessment of a proposed wind farm at Bowbeat Hill, Scottish Borders, CFA Report No 501. Commissioned by Natural Power Consultants Ltd

McGill C., Second season of trial trenching programme at Newbarns, near Inverkeilor, Angus. University of Edinburgh Department of Archaeology Angus and South Aberdeenshire Field School. Data Structure Report No. 500, November 1999. Grant aided by University of Edinburgh and Historic Scotland,.

Alexander D., Raasay Ferry Terminal: Archaeological Survey for Environmental Assessment, CFA Report No 499. Commissioned by Turnbull Jeffrey Partnership.

Cameron K. and Woodhead J., Excavations at Tel Jezreel, Data Structure, Report 498 Funded by British Academy, British School of Archaeology in Jerusalem, Danish School for Biblical Studies and the Russell Trust

Cressey M., 1999 Dunlappie Bridge Replacement - Archaeological Assessment. CFA Data Structure Report No. 497. Commissioned by Angus Council, July 1999.

Alexander D., Tomnaverie Stone Circle, Tarland, Archaeological Survey in immediate vicinity CFA Data Structure Report No 496. Commissioned by Mid-Deeside Limited, August 1999.

Neighbour T., Castle Street - Motherwell Road, Hamilton: Archaeological Evaluation, Data Structure Report No. 495, Commissioned by South Lanarkshire Development Partnerships, September 1999.

McGill C., Vodafone Ltd cell site 5425, Drochil Castle Farm, near Romannobridge, Scottish Borders Watching brief for extension of existing mast site. Data Structure Report No. 494, Commissioned by James Barr Chartered Surveyors on behalf of Vodafone Ltd, August 1999.

Cameron K., Archaeological Excavations at Brechin West, Angus; commissioned by Angus Council

Cressey M., Solway 3 1999 Environmental Assessment and Coastal Management Survey. Powfoot to Newbie Cottages, Near Annan, Solway Firth. Commissioned by Historic Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage.

Alexander D., Finavon Hill. Easter Field School Report, University of Edinburgh Department of Archaeology Angus and South Aberdeenshire Field School, Data Structure Report No. 489, July 1999. Grant aided by University of Edinburgh and Historic Scotland.

Rees A R., Electricity Power Line Replacement, Bonnyhill Rd, Falkirk, Archaeological Watching Brief

Cameron K., Dellfield, Inshes, Inverness , Archaeological Watching Brief. Data Structure Report No. 487. Commissioned by Tulloch Civil Engineering Limited.

Strachan R., A1 Trunk Road: West of Spott Junction to Oswald Dean Dualling. Archaeological Watching Brief and Cist Excavation. CFA Data Structure Report No. 486,. Commissioned by Historic Scotland, July 1999.

Strachan R., Capo Long Barrow, Edzell. Easter Field School Report University of Edinburgh Department of Archaeology Angus and South Aberdeenshire Field School, Data Structure Report No. 485, June 1999. Grant aided by University of Edinburgh and Historic Scotland.

Rees A. & Neighbour T., Archaeological Evaluation Muirside Estate, Oakley, Dunfermline, Data Structure Report No. 484, Commissioned by Land Regeneration and Development Ltd, June 1999.

Strachan R., Cressey M., and Suddaby I., Beinn Ghlas Windfarm, Barguillean Estate, Taynuilt: Archaeological Watching Brief. CFA Data Structure Report No. 483, commissioned by National Wind Power, June 1999.

Alexander D., Stoneyhill landfill, Peterhead - proposed extension, Archaeological survey for Environmental Assessment. CFA Report No. 482, commissioned by Cordah Limited.

Cameron K., Kyle of Lochalsh Water Treatment Works; Archaeological Survey. June 1999

Glen Shirva Road, Twechar, East Dunbartonshire: Archaeological Assessment. CFA Report No 480, commissioned by Cooper Cromar, June 1999.

Cressey, M., Dunlappie Bridge Replacement, Angus: Desk-based Assessment. CFA Report No. 479, commissioned by Angus Council, June 1999.

Strachan R. and Cressey M., Inshes Sewer, Inverness: Archaeological Excavation of Two Burnt Mounds and a Wooden trough, CFA Data Structure Report No. 478 commissioned by North of Scotland Water Authority via Mott MacDonald Limited, .June 1999.

Strachan R. and Cressey M., Inshes Sewer, Inverness. Archaeological Watching Brief. CFA Data Structure Report No. 477, commissioned by North of Scotland Water Authority via Tulloch Civil Engineering Limited, June 1999.

Hamilton J., Archaeological evaluation at Millburn Road, Inverness, Data Structure Report No. 476, Commissioned by Halliday Fraser Munro, May 1999.

McGill C., Blackness to Grangemouth natural gas pipeline: Archaeological Watching Brief. Report No: 475. Commissioned by BP Chemicals Ltd, June 1999.

Glendinning B., Sandyhill, Tayport, Fife: Archaeological Evaluation, Data Structure Report No. 474, Commissioned by Camperdown Construction Ltd

Alexander D., Midross Golf Development, Environmental Assessment. CFA Report No. 473.

Clarke C.M, Cressey M. and Pelling R., A catalogue of carbonised remains from Holywood cursus monument. CFA Report No. 472.

Coles G., Church M. and Milburn P., An Assessment Survey of the Palaeoecological Record of the Eastern Angus and adjacent South Aberdeenshire Ploughlands University of Edinburgh Department of Archaeology Angus and South Aberdeenshire Field School, Data Structure Report No 471

Neighbour T. and Church M., An eroding settlement and long cist cemetery at Galson, Isle of Lewis: Project design for recording and establishment of baseline survey, Data Structure Report No. 470, May 1999.

Strachan R., A836 Road Improvements: Farr to Kirktomy, Sutherland. Archaeological excavation of two clearance cairns at Fiscary; Archaeological watching brief - Farr to Kirktomy section, CFA Report No. 469, commissioned by Kenneth Stewart (Strathpeffer) Ltd, October 1999.

Glendinning B., Geophysical survey of Braehead Farm Souterrain, Tullich, Aberdeenshire, Data Structure Report No. 468, Commissioned by Historic Scotland, March 1999.

Alexander D. and Finlayson B., Scottish Power Transmission System: East Kilbride Reinforcement, South Route, Archaeological Baseline Report, commissioned by Gillespies on behalf of Scottish Power plc

Strachan R., A836 Improvements: Archaeological Field Survey for Strip Widened Section (Chainage 4145-8400), CFA Report No. 466, commissioned by Kenneth Stewart (Strathpeffer) Ltd, March 1999.

Neighbour T., Lynch Housing Development at Castlehill, Ayr: Archaeological Evaluation, Data Structure Report No. 412. Commissioned by McLean Gibson Partnership, Sponsored by John Lynch (Builders) Ltd, September 1999.

Alexander D. and Finlayson B., Scottish Power Transmission System: East Kilbride Reinforcement, North Route, Archaeological Baseline Report, commissioned by Gillespies on behalf of Scottish Power plc.

Strachan R., Down Law Fort, Ladybank, Fife. Archaeological Watching Brief, Data Structure Report No. 463, commissioned by Scottish Power plc, February 1999.

Alexander D., West Mains, Redcastle, Lunan Bay, Angus: Archaeological Excavations. University of Edinburgh Department of Archaeology Angus and South Aberdeenshire Field School, Data Structure Report No. 462.

Rees A..R., Costed assessment for post excavation work on Hoprig short cist burial

Rees A..R., Archaeological Excavation and watching brief at Hoprig near Cockburnspath. Data Structure Report No 460, Commissioned by White, Young and Green for East of Scotland Water

Cameron K., Dunfermline - Kingdom Gateway, Archaeological Evaluation. Commissioned by Redrow Homes.

Cressey M. and Cameron K., Chalmerston North?Pennyvenie Opencast Coal Scheme, Dalmellington, east Ayrshire. Archaeological Field Survey (Phase 1) CFA Report No. 458 Commissioned by Entec UK Ltd.

Hamilton J., Archaeological Evaluation at Scotcraig Golf Course, Tayport, Fife. Data Structure Report No. 457, commissioned by K. Gourlay of Scotcraig Colf Course

Cameron K., Mosmorran Pipeline, Grangemouth. Archaeological excavation of shell midden sites, Inveravon. Data Structure Report No. 456, commissioned by BP Chemicals Ltd, February 1999.

McGill C., Proposed Blackness - Grangemouth natural gas pipeline Watching brief at the Bo’ness to Kinneil railway crossing. Report No. 455. Commissioned by BP Chemicals Ltd, June 1999.

McGill C., Proposed Blackness - Grangemouth natural gas pipeline: Second phase of Archaeological Trial Trenching of a possible Shell Midden site at Inveravon Farm, Report No. 454. Commissioned by BP Chemicals Ltd, June 1999.

Glendinning B. and Cressey M., "Investigation of the Antonine Wall beside the Board Burn, Shirva, East Dumbartonshire" CFA Report No 453, Commissioned by West of Scotland Water.

Neighbour T., Archaeological Evaluation of the walled garden at Appleby Castle, Cumbria, Data Structure Report No. 452, Commissioned by Johnston and Wright on behalf of Appleby Castle Ltd, February 1999.

Cameron K., Loch Ashie bypass water main, Inverness. Data Structure Report 451, commissioned by Mott McDonald.

Glendinning B., Archaeological investigations in the vicinity of Dooket Hill, Auldearn, High land: Geophysical survey and excavation, Data Structure Report No. 450, commissioned by Highland Council, January 1999.

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Public Lectures and Conferences

 

In addition to the following conferences and lectures, this year’s conference for the Scottish Archaeological Forum entitled Circular arguments; the archaeology of Scottish Roundhouses; was organised by Derek Alexander (Chairman of the SAF) and Mike Church (Treasurer of the SAF) both of whom also delivered papers and chaired sessions. The conference was held at the University of Glasgow in October 1999. Andy Dunwell is co-organiser of the First Millenium Studies Group.

 

Alexander, Derek

"Recent excavation on a medieval moated site in Elderslie" Cowal Archaeology Society, Dunoon

"Light at the end of the tunnel: the souterrain and barrow cemetery at Redcastle, Lunan Bay" Tayside and Fife Archaeological Conference, Kirkaldy

"Off at a tangent: a review of roundhouses in northeast Scotland" Circular Arguments - the archaeology of roundhouses. Scottish Archaeological Forum Conference, Glasgow

"Recent excavation on a medieval moated site in Elderslie." Society of William Wallace, Elderslie

"A medieval moated site at Elderslie?" West of Scotland Archaeology Service Conference, Glasgow

"Plain pots and complex cropmarks: archaeology of the Kintore Bypass." Dept of Archaeology Seminar Series, Edinburgh

Bonsall, Clive

with Janet Griffitts (University of Arizona) "Experimental determination of the function of antler and bone bevel-ended tools from prehistoric shell middens in western Scotland". Second Meeting of the Bone Tool Research Group, Budapest, September 1999. Attendance at the Budapest meeting was assisted by a conference grant from The University.

"The Mesolithic/Neolithic transition in western Scotland" Mesolithic Scotland: The Early Holocene Prehistory of Scotland in its European Context, conference held at the National Museum, Edinburgh, November 1999.

Cerón-Carrasco R.

with Pollard T. The Geodha Smoo caves, Durness, Sutherland, "Scotland: The use of Marine Resources Through Different Periods." Paper presented to the International Council for Archaeo-zoology 8th International Conference, Victoria, BC, September 1998.

"Evidences for fishing at Bostadh Beach, Greater Bernera, Isle of Lewis, Scotland, during the later Iron Age". Paper presented to the 10th Meeting of the International Council for Archaeo-zoology, Fish Remains Working Group, New York, September 1999.

Church, Mike

with Gilmour, S., "Uig Landscape Survey, 1996-8." Hebridean Archaeological Forum; Rhum Castle, Scotland, September 1998.

"The identification of domestic fuel sources in Atlantic Scotland." Association of Environmental Archaeology, Spring Meeting; University of Edinburgh, April 1999.

with Neighbour, T., "The archaeology of Bostadh beach, Isle of Lewis. "First Millenium Studies Group; University of Edinburgh, May 1999.

"The botany of brochs’; 20 years on." Circular arguments; the archaeology of Scottish Roundhouses; Scottish Archaeological Forum Conference; University of Glasgow, Oct. 1999.

Cressey, Mike

"Coastal Erosion and Palaeoenvironmental Research in the Inner Solway Firth." Neolithic Studies Group, London

"Recent Palaeoenvironmetal Investigation in the Solway Firth." Association of Environmental Archaeologists, Edinburgh

Dunwell, Andrew

"A New Sequence for Edin’s Hall." First Millennia Studies Group, Edinburgh

"Roman finds from native contexts in northern Britain." First Millennia Studies Group, Edinburgh

"Time and tide: excavations at Geirisclett and other eroding coastal sites, North Uist."

Archaeological Research in Progress, Council for Scottish Archaeology and the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Edinburgh.

"South-east Scotland: a review of the evidence." Circular Arguments: the archaeology of round houses. Scottish Archaeological Forum Conference, Glasgow.

Midgley, Magdalena

24ème Colloque interrégional sur le Néolithique, Orléans - "La résidence des morts au Cerny: enceintes, monuments et 'contenants' funéraires" November 1999

Neighbour, Tim

"Replicating an Iron Age House in the Outer Hebrides: A co-operative venture." World of Archaeological Wonders (WoW), Borobudur Temple, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

"Excavations on the ‘amphitheatre’ and other areas east of Inveresk fort." Roman Inveresk: Past Present and Future, Day seminar of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and Historic Scotland, Edinburgh.

"The long cist cemetery at Galson: pagan and Christian?" First Millennium Studies Group, Edinburgh

"Excavation of the eroding settlement on Bostadh beach, Great Bernera, Isle of Lewis." First Millennium Studies Group, Edinburgh

Peltenburg, Eddie.

"Rescue Archaeology on the Euphrates: the Ancient Kingdom of Carchemish", Glasgow Archaeological Society, 15 October 1998

with Fiona Stephen, "Scientific Analyses of Uruk Ceramics from Jerablus Tahtani and other Middle-Upper Euphrates Sites," Artefacts of Complexity: Tracking the Uruk in the Near East, Conference at the University of Manchester, 6-7th November 1998

"Jerablus Tahtani", University of Tubingen, 7 December 1998

"Changing patterns of production and exchange of East Mediterranean faience in the late 2nd - early 1st millennium BC", Kolloquium: Die nahØstlichen Kulturen und Griechenland an der Wende vom 2. Zum 1. Jahrtausend v. Chr. Kontinutt und Wandel von Strukturen und Mechanismen kultureller Interaktion Mainz: 11-12 December 1998

"Kissonerga Mylouthkia", Western Sovereign Base Area Archaeology Society, Episkopi, 23 September 1999.

Rees, Alastair

"Recent work by the CFA on the Antonine Wall." Falkirk Historical Society, Falkirk

Strachan, Richard

"A prehistoric sauna in Inverness?" and "Rediscovering the Northern Railway." Highland Archaeology Week Seminar, Inverness

"Hidden Houses: archaeology on the St Fergus to Peterhead Pipeline." Society of Antiquities of Scotland, Aberdeen

Tams, Adrian

Archaeological Soil Micromorphology Working Group Meeting, University of Ghent, Belgium, March 18th-22^nd.

Assocaition for Environmental Archaeology Spring Meeting, Department of Arcaheology, University of Edinburgh, April 16^th.

15th International Union of Quaternary Research International Congress, Durban, South Africa, August 2nd-12th:

Co-organiser of the British Society of Soil Science International Conference on Soil Organic Matter: Sustainability and Management. Edinburgh Conference Centre, Herriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, September 14th-17th.

Warren, Graeme

"Throwing it all away? Stone tool deposition in mesolithic and earlier neolithic Eastern Scotland." Presented at The Palaeolithic and Mesolithic of Europe and Britain, 5/2/99, University of Sheffield. Joint Conference of Prehistoric Society and Sheffield University Archaeology Society.

"Salmon, stone and Sky" Peopling the Mesolithic in a Northern Environment, Theoretical Archaeology Group, 15/12/99, Cardiff University

Watkins, Trevor

‘On taking a cognitive view of the Neolithic.’ British Association of Near Eastern Archaologists, 1998 Conference, Birmingham, December 1998.

 

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Undergraduate Course Statistics

First/Second Year Courses

[figures for 1998/9 (and 1997/8)]

Archaeology 3 and 4 Honours options

[Most courses are taught in alternate years so figures are for 1998/9 (and 1996/7)]

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Occasional Papers and Project Papers

All orders should be sent, cash with order, direct to: Oxbow Books Ltd, Park End Place, Oxford OX1 1HN. The prices quoted here include UK postage and packing. Personal callers may obtain copies from the Secretary, Department of Archaeology, University of Edinburgh, Old High School, Infirmary Street, Edinburgh. The complete list of department publications is as follows.

Monograph Series (ISSN 0968-0500)

No. 1 D. W. Harding, I. M. Blake & P. J. Reynolds, An Iron Age Settlement in Dorset. Excavation and Reconstruction, 1993, 125 + xi pp., inc. 6 pp. colour plates, £50.00.

Occasional Papers (ISSN 0144-3313)

No. 1 R. J. Mercer, Scottish Rural Rescue Archaeology: the next five years. 1978, 20 pp, £5.00.

No. 2 P. Hill, Broxmouth Hillfort Excavations, 1977-78: an interim report. 1979, out of print, but see No. 8.

No. 3 D. W. Harding, Celts in Conflict: Hillfort Studies, 1927-1977 (Inaugural Lecture, 6 Dec. 1979). 1980, 23 pp, £5.00.

No. 4 R. J. Mercer & J. M. Howell, Archaeological Field Survey in Northern Scotland, I, 1976-79. 1980, 157 pp, £20.00.

No. 5 A. F. Harding, The Lake Dwellings of Switzerland: retrospect and prospect (Munro Lectures, 5 & 6 Feb. 1980) 1980, 16 pp, £5.00.

No. 6 D. W. Ridgway, The Etruscans. 1981, viii & 45 pp, £10.00.

No. 7 R. J. Mercer, Archaeological Field Survey in Northern Scotland, II, 1980-81. 1981, 170 pp, £20.00.

No. 8 D. W. Harding, ed., Later Prehistoric Settlement in South-East Scotland. (Proceedings of a conference held in November 1981) 1982, vii & 214 pp, £25.00. This volume incorporates a second edition of Occasional Paper No 2.

No. 9 B. S. Ottaway, ed., Archaeology, Dendrochronology and the Radiocarbon Calibration Curve. 1982, 100 pp, £15.00.

No. 10 N. Palk, Iron Age Bridle-Bits from Britain. 1984, 174 pp, £15.00

No. 11 R. J. Mercer, Archaeological Field Survey in Northern Scotland, III, 1982-83. 1985, xii & 278 pp, £25.00.

No. 12 Fulvia Lo Schiavo, Nuragic Sardinia in its Mediterranean Setting. (Munro Lectures, 1 & 2 December 1982) 1985, v & 35 pp, £10.00

No. 13 Richard Bradley, Consumption, Change and the Archaeological Record: the archaeology of monuments and the archaeology of deliberate deposits. (Munro Lectures, 27 & 28 November 1984) 1985, v + 44 pp, £10.00

No. 14 T. F. Watkins & S. Campbell, Excavations at Kharabeh Shattani, I. 1986, 169 pp, £20.00.

No. 15 D. W. Harding, Excavations in Oxfordshire, 1964-66. (Frilford and Woodeaton) 1987, v & 59 pp, £10.00.

No. 16 Johannes Müller, The Chambered Cairns of the Northern and Western Isles: Architectural Structure, Information Transfer and Locational Processes. 1987, 92 pp. £15.00

No. 17 S. Pickles, Metallurgical Change in Late Bronze Age Cyprus. 1988, 45 pp. £10.00

No. 18 Douglas Baird, Stuart Campbell & Trevor Watkins, eds., Excavations at Kharabeh Shattani, Volume II. 1995, 205 pp, £25.00

No. 19 Edgar Peltenburg, Lemba Archaeological Project, Cyprus: Excavations at Kissonerga-Mosphilia, Volume II.1B (2 parts), 1998. Published on the web at: http://www.arcl.ed.ac.uk/arch/publications/cyprus/kissonerga/index.html Printed copies available from the author at £25 per volume (by post) or £20 (cash on collection)

Project Papers (ISSN 0266-1799)

No. 1 T. F. Watkins, Rullion Green 1983: report on the 1983 season of excavations. 1984, 81 pp, £10.00

No. 2 D. W. Harding, Holme House, Piercebridge: excavations, 1969-70, a summary report. 1984, ii + 21 pp, £5.00

No. 3 T. F. Watkins, Rullion Green 1984: report on the 1984 season of excavations. 1986, 100 pp, £10.00.

No. 4 R. J. Mercer, Excavation of a Neolithic Enclosure at Helman Tor, Lanlivery, Cornwall, 1986: interim report. 1986, 18 pp, £5.00

No. 5 I. Armit, Excavations at Loch Olabhat, N. Uist, 1986: first interim report. 1986, 19 pp, £5.00

No. 6 T. F. Watkins & D. Baird, Qermez Dere, the Excavation of an Aceramic Neolithic Settlement near Tell Afar, N. Iraq, 1987: interim report. 1987, 14 pp & 4 figs, £5.00

No. 7 C. S. Phillips, Wadi al Qawr, Fashga 1: the excavation of a prehistoric burial structure in Ras al Khaimah, U.A.E., 1986. 1987, 32 pp & 39 figs, £8.00.

No. 8 I. Armit, Excavation of a Neolithic Island Settlement in Loch Olabhat, North Uist, 1987: second interim report. 1987, 34 pp, £8.00.

No. 9 I. Armit, Excavations at Cnip, West Lewis, 1988: Interim Report. 1988, 34 pp, £8.00

No. 10 I. Armit, Excavations at Loch Olabhat, North Uist, 1988: Third Interim Report. 1988, £8.00.

No. 11 T. Watkins & J. Murray, Rullion Green 1985: report on the 1985 season of excavations. 1990, £8.

No. 12 I. Armit, Excavations at Loch Olabhat, North Uist, 1989: Fourth Interim Report. 1990, £8.00.

No. 13 T. Watkins, Alison Betts, Keith Dobney & Mark Nesbitt, with contributions by Rowena Gale & Theya Molleson, Qermez Dere, Tell Afar, Interim Report No. 2. 1991, 62 pp., £10.00

No. 14 T. Watkins, ed., with contributions by Alison Betts, Keith Dobney, Mark Nesbitt & Trevor Watkins, Qermez Dere, Tell Afar, Interim Report No. 3. 1995, 81 pp., £15.00.

Published on the occasion of the Department's Diamond Jubilee

Trevor Watkins (compiler & author), From the Pieces of the Past. 1988, 167 pp, A5 format, £10.00 (ISBN 0 902704 03 6)

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